Some time ago I wrote a post entitled "Emotion or intellect- which truly guides our life?"
Of the seventeen comments, all of those who answered said that emotion had great influence on guiding your life.
I have found something more of interest on this topic. From changingminds.org:
Common emotional decisions may use some logic, but the main driving force is emotion, which either overrides logic or uses a pseudo-logic to support emotional choices. Another common use of emotion in decision is to start with logic and then use emotion in the final choice.
Neuroscientist Antonio Damasio studied people who had received brain injuries that had one specific effect: the brain was damaged where emotions are generated. In all other respects they seemed normal- they just lost the ability to feel emotions.
The interesting thing he found was that their ability to make decisions was seriously impaired. They could logically describe what they should be doing, in practice they found it very difficult to make decisions about, for instance, where to live.
So at the point of decision, emotions are very important for choosing. In fact even with what we believe are logical decisions, the very point of choice is arguably always based on emotion.
But it gets better. What if the subconscious is in charge?
An even stranger factor is research where the subject's brain was wired to recorders and the subject was asked to simply press a red button at any time. The notion was that if the conscious mind was in charge, then that part of the brain would be seen to change first, and if the decision started in the subconscious, then electrical activity in that part of the brain would work first.
And the answer was... that the subconscious started activity first. The shocking conclusion is that the subconscious is in charge of the bus, and we are living an illusion of conscious choice. As emotions also stem from the subconscious, then this makes it even more likely that decisions have a strong emotional influence.
Well, this raises a few questions. We know that everything in life is historical, that we realize everything after the fact because it takes time for us to realize anything that happens- even thought. Synapses have to fire and carry the message.
We know our sleep and dreamtime is controlled by the subconscious and there are cultures that believe dreamtime is the true reality.
If our subconscious is in charge in wake time, just exactly who is making the decisions, and how? And when?
Thought I would leave you with that little nugget.
beyondtheveil posted on Feb 15, 2008
| views: 242
Comments
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kruuyai said on Feb 15, 2008....
Mmmmm, good post, beyond. So, I guess all that time I spend looking after my dreams isn't wasted after all? I think the conscious and subconscious can take turns being in control. The subconscious is usually in control in our dreams, for example, but there are plenty of people who manage to do lucid dreaming and control their dreams with their conscious minds (doesn't seem like it would be as much fun that way, though). So, I imagine the same could be true of our waking life. I don't think of the conscious and subconscious as two separate entities... like there's a beast inside waiting for the opportunity to take over our brains. But illusion has always been a very intriguing concept to me. I've had the feeling, since I was very young, that one day, I would wake up and find out that my entire life had been a dream. And my life has been so weird that I wouldn't be surprised at all. lol
On a side note, I thought you were going to say that the people who had brain damage and couldn't feel emotions were more capable of making decisions... not less. That is really interesting. Especially when you consider that women in the corporate world are often put down by the male establishment for being so emotionally based. It bears looking into. It seems that men must rely on their emotions just as much as we do.. they just hide it better and masquerade it as logic. I always knew that those arguments I used to have with my ex-husband, where he accused me of having twisted logic, were frustrating.. Now I know why. Hey, where is everyone tonight? It's awfully quiet around here.
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hottips4u said on Feb 15, 2008....
This is just what you are talking about. I hope it helps. Jessi.
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uniquely-ironic said on Feb 15, 2008....
This is a good blog! I've spent years feeling badly because I recognize that I am an emotional decision maker and society tends to look down on that. Not to mention the times I've been told by a man that women are too emotional when it comes to making decisions. Now I feel somewhat vindicated.I am not completely surprised that the brain damaged person were less able to make a decision. I have a niece who, though not damaged, is what I like to call a walking logic machine. She will worry to death the simplest decisions (what flavor of ice cream, etc.) until she either has no more choices or the people around her snap and make a decision for her. She somehow has less ability or trust to use her feelings when it comes to making decisions. -
wombat said on Feb 15, 2008....
This sort of goes hand in hand with the post by lfbno7--sorry I don't know how to make a link to the post. But as I said on that one, I am interested in how the brain works. I am re-reading, and reading on.... It's fascinating, and yet a little scary. I want to read more here, also!(on another note if I may) I believe that the human mind can be damaged by more than just physical injury, and that it will function differently after "emotional damage" has occured. Any thoughts on this? -
lfbno7 said on Feb 16, 2008....
I don't see it as a black and white "logic is good, emotion is bad" issue, and I'm not sure that's what you're saying, but it might be. First of all, I don't think that too many people are capable of logic. I don't think an awful lot of people have that card in their deck. Second, I consider the logical brain to be the handmaiden of intuition, and I think intuition is what drives most of our decisions, much like animals. How often does someone really sit down and weigh the pros and cons of something and come up with a decision based purely on intellect? Not too often. You do what your intuition tells you to do, sort of like a pinball game where the ball ends up going into a certain hole for its own reasons. And since most people don't have a good logic game, it's just as well. You can never go far wrong by underestimating the human intellect. -
kruuyai said on Feb 16, 2008....
7: I often sit down and write out a list of pros and cons when I need to make a decision. And then, if the logical decision doesn't mesh with my emotional decision... emotion usually wins out. :) -
beyondtheveil said on Feb 16, 2008....
kruu- I wish there was a really good definition of what the subconscious is to begin with. I'm going to guess that they are saying the subconscious receives information from the brain first, processes it to a point and then releases it to the conscious as a series of possibilities to react to emotionally. After that, the subconscious makes the decision and we simply state the chosen option.
In dreamstate the subconscious is totally in charge and upon waking we don't totally understand the thought process because our conscious wasn't a part of it. I agree with you that the two can't be completely separated, but the subconscious is is logic related and the conscious almost totally emotion related. By reacting to the subconscious emotionally, the decision is made.
If this is true, the Aborigines are close to being right that reality is dreamstate, or subconscious, and wakestate is a purely emotional setting.
hottips- Is this the pathway for brain realization of outside stimuli? I'd have to get more info to understand this.
unique- You may now feel good to know we are all emotional decision makers. Men have fed women that "emotional creature" crap long enough. Men are just as emotional as women but make more attempt at hiding it. I'm kind of like your niece in that I sometimes have a devil of a time choosing from a menu- drives my wife a bit crazy.
wombat- I think emotional damage is quite prevalent in many men and women and has definite consequences on decision making. Most of it has to do with fear, I believe. In others it might reveal itself in extreme caution, which is probably an extension of fear. Fear is a big culprit in effective decision making.
7- First, I'm not at all saying emotion is bad, quite the contrary, we couldn't make sound decisions without emotion in my opinion. Second, I believe most people are capable of making logical decisions, but many are overburdened with emotional issues that consistently interfere with good decisions. I also believe intuition is grounded in emotion. I find it impossible to believe intuition is grounded in intellect.
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truthsayer said on Feb 16, 2008....
Awesome post beyond. I told you about my logic professor that had had so many nervous breakdowns that he ended up taking early retirement. He really believed that he could make purely logical decisions. You know those tables that they call truth tables? I think that's what they're called. He was the most nervous man I have ever met. Nice, but you could just feel that he was terrified and frantic...always running those unrealistic...imho....tables in his head about everything.Life is never the way we think it is. I would like to know what part of the brain, logistically...or better...it's location ; ) in the brain. I think I'll go google that. Be right back...truth -
truthsayer said on Feb 16, 2008....
Okay. I got great information and diagrams for our homeschool ; )
Anyway, I couldn't find exactly what I was looking for...but there is great debate over the subconscious mind, it's location, whether it is more hardware or software ; ) and the function of the limbic system in general.
I did find some interesting stuff on the abstract function, or the conceptual function of the brain/mind. But I don't know that it would be relevant to most folks in here.
I understand that I am a lot more comfortable with most of this discussion of the subconscious mind, than many "logic" proponents would be. There is balance. I think I'm going to blog about a dream I had night before last. I thought about it, talked to a few people about it, and I think I'm comfortable enough with the symbolism and deeper meanings of my subconscious mind and my higher power...My Lord, in my lingo ; )
Great post though beyond. Thanks for inspiring me, yet again : )
Your think-buddie,
truthsayer : )
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beyondtheveil said on Feb 16, 2008....
truth- One thing I've found is that most of the logic proponents I've discussed this with are far more emotional about the discussion than I am- one of the strange components you can run into in discussions.
Its like when I discuss religion or paranormal or UFO's with dyed-in-the-wool skeptics, they leave with the idea that their high emotional content carried the day.
I'd like to hear about the dream- especially yours and your thoughts from it.
Always good to hear from you and your input, truth.
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truthsayer said on Feb 16, 2008....
I too have experienced that interesting relationship between the "logical' ones and their intensely emotional responses. I think that's one reason they get so frustrated with me...because I usually remain a bit "calmer" ; )I'm gonna post that dream. I hope I can get it done this weekend. It sure was interesting after I thought about it and got confirmation from the one who knows me so well.Til later then?Love hearing from you. It means so much to me. More than you'll ever know.Your buddie,truth -
mobil said on Feb 16, 2008....
Interesting as usual Beyond, I have been in the company of females most of my adult life. Wife, daughers and granddaughers. I would ask, why is so and so so emotional? Wife would say; Oh, she's getting her period, or in the middle of it or just after. Emotional basket cases during those times, not all, or always, but often.I am sure we all make emotional decisions, I think the trick is to seperate that emotion when making important decisions. I am mostly able to do that, but then how do I know for sure haha. -
beyondtheveil said on Feb 16, 2008....
mobil- Hey, good to see you again. I've really missed your take on this world we live in. I think the ladies have hormones we don't even wonder about, so I can't pass judgment. I do wonder occasionally how you and I would handle a period, though.
I might have the screamin' meemies.
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silverwhisper said on Feb 18, 2008....
a friend of mine, a cognitive psych guy, is fond of observing that emotion and logic, despite what decades of star trek seem to insist, represent a false dichotomy.
we make choices based upon what seem like perfectly logical reasons, but facts are weighted by us on the scale of emotion: emotions form the context within which we view things.
ultimately, i think emotion is a form of "meta-logic".
ed -
beyondtheveil said on Feb 19, 2008....
Ed- What you and your friend say make perfect sense, but what do you think about decisions being made in the subconscious and conscious simply being made aware to vocalize? I think the conscious/subconscious is also a false dichotomy, but separated by awareness.
Meta-logic- interesting.
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truthsayer said on Feb 19, 2008....
I agree with BOTH of you! How about that? : )truth : ) -
silverwhisper said on Feb 20, 2008....
beyond: i don't know, beyond--IMHO, the process of decision-making, being the product of conscious and deliberate thought, would seem contrary to that to me. hm.
ed
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