The human mind is a complex entity. As a consequence, human behavior too is a result of such complex phenomena in our brains. These phenomena are a result of the making and breaking of many neural connections. As well as that of electrochemical signals pulsating between the neural networks.
On a macroscopic basis, this behavior consists of mental, physical, and social activities. The basics of such occurrences of human activities are explained below. You can call them the key factors that give rise to all other complex events. The discussed factors allow our abilities of consciousness, communication, and response.
Ego States
We, humans, are social animals. Thus the importance of social interactions becomes highlighted. During these social interactions, certain behaviors arise. These behaviors are a result of the state of our mind and our psychic attitudes.
The complex human behavior can be simplified to three basic terms. these are the ‘ego states’. They govern the attitude of a person. In other words, these are the factors that make a person mature or immature. They are the base of the sense of right and wrong. Therefore, a foundation of social interactions
The ego states that lay the foundation of the human mind are:
- Adult
- Child
- Parent
Parent
Human minds have an ego state that tells us if we should do something or not. In other words, we all have a parent in ourselves. It is the sense a human mind posses of right and wrong. Something that depends on the way our thoughts are wired. This includes whatever we have learned throughout life up till the present moment. This feature what we prefer during social interaction.
Child
That is the emotional part of the human mind. As we grow up, no matter how mature we become, there still lives a child within us. The difference between a mature and an immature person is that; ‘WHEN’ they allow their inner child to participate in social interactions.
A mature person knows to not let the child out in public, professional, or rational circumstances. They only allow it in personal interactions. With those whom we allow in our intimate zones.
( Our intimate zones are a part of our personal space we might allow an immediate family member or a really close friend to enter. this can be emotionally or physically. eg: hugging.)
Adult
The adult is mostly there in all social interactions. Or at least it should be there. This feature of the human mind is supposed to and does in most circumstances govern the activity of child and parent. Whether a person is speaking or responding in any sort of social interaction. The adult makes all rational decisions.
Fruitful and Bare Social Interactions
For a social interaction to be fruitful between two subjects, the person giving stimulus and the one responding must be on the same or similar page.
This means that if a person gives a child stimulus, speaks on an emotional level addressing the child of the second person, But the respondent comes with an ‘Adult’ feedback, the communication is destroyed on the emotional level. an example is a sarcastic response to a sincere spouse.
Another similar situation arrives when an adult stimulus is sent to the adult of the respondent and a child response comes back addressing the child of first-person. This occurs when a person goes for an interview (a serious professional meeting) and their conduct is immature and emotional.
The Reactive and Proactive Brain
The continuum of human brain functionalities consists of two parts. They are namely, reactive and proactive parts.
The reactive system is designed to operate automatically and quickly. Actions just occur without our will or control. They require little or no mental effort.
Such as dodging a fast-moving object as it approaches to save yourself. it is an instant reaction. or by looking at a picture of a person quickly telling their gender.
The proactive system on the contrary requires proper attention and effort to proceed. we even make complex analyses or calculations. They are something we choose to do and focus upon.
In other words, reactive operations are unintentional whereas, proactive being intentional.
Body Reaction
An amazing finding regarding the reaction of our body to proactive tasks is given by Eckhard Heinrich Hess. He was a German-born American psychologist and ethologist, recognized for his research on pupillometry and animal imprinting.
He found that pupils about the amount of mental effort a person makes. They dilate when a person focuses on a subject. The extent of dilation is governed by the difficulty of the problem i.e. as the level of difficulty rises dilation increases.
Mind and Body Problem
The body-mind problem is concerned with the matter of whether the bodies and minds are one or are entirely separated. This topic has been under debate for a long time. Psychologists and philosophers have developed several theories such as body-mind dualism, idealism, Logical behaviorism, and Functionalism, etc.
Keeping it simple there are two main ideas
- Body and Mind are separated ( Dualism)
- Body and Mind are linked (Monism)
Body-Mind Dualism
This idea says that the body and mind are two separate substances. It was proposed by a French mathematician, philosopher, and scientist Rene Descartes. His dictum goes by ‘Cogito ergo sum’ (I think, therefore I am). This idea has gained popularity in many intellectuals today. His discovery had gained popularity until the modern era of monism.
Body-Mind Monism
Recent psychologists and biologists have proved Descartes’s idea wrong. One of them is Antonio Damasio. The new idea says that the body and mind are linked in biological and mental senses.
This idea gains ground by the fact that whatever hormonal or emotional changes we go through, appear in our body language even if they are slight and unnoticeable. And our physical changes can affect our mental state as well.
It is a fact that whenever we think a thought there are electrochemical changes that occur in our brains and certain neurological patterns emerge as we learn or think new things.
On the whole
Based on the above functions of our brain all the other activities arise. if you get a good understanding of them then you can understand the details of more complicated behaviors. They form the foundation that explains why we are the way we are. With that said, see you next time in another post. farewell.
