AMERICA IN CONFLICT

What Happens When the Brain Runs the Show…

Two hundred and thirteen milliseconds.

That is approximately how long it takes for the human brain to judge a situation as right or wrong, safe or unsafe.

Let that sink in a minute. In less time than it takes to blink your eyes, your brain, without your permission no less, can arm you to fight or flight.

In highly simplistic terms, in any given situation, the human brain is wired to follow an established set of hierarchical physical and social rules and algorithms in order to keep itself and its host (that’s you) safe and in efficient working order. As humans are only born with two fears, namely loud noises and falling, we learn the plethora of other things we need to fear through experience and social input. Have you ever seen a toddler run out into the street or reach for a hot stove? What is dangerous in this world is not as innate as you may think.

Some of our fears have to do with risks to life and limb and others are more of a threat to social standing. Addressing either of these can be equally important biologically. Because of this, every one of us at one time or another has fallen prey to acting on automatic, spurred on by our core beliefs rather than endorsed values. Furthermore, we create a sort of legal fiction that helps us feel completely confident and secure when we do such things. You. Me. Everyone has done this. Not because we are terrible people, but because our brains are wired that way and it is not often safe in our society to check or challenge our long-held beliefs.

I do not usually address politics in my writing, but given what I know about the brain, I have to say, “No wonder things are so out-of-whack right now.”

My own personal position may become obvious as I share my shock and sadness at the events of January 6th. Even though I condemn the violence and disagree with the stance of those who stormed the Capitol, as a neuroscience-informed trauma therapist with extensive experience with cult survivors (i.e., people who hold incredibly strongly to their belief system), having been one myself, I understand why it happened. Stick with me here while I create an imaginary but plausible scenario that will demonstrate my point.

Imagine John Q. has grown up believing that purple shirts are the best. Not only are they the best, but they also have a certain kind of rightness about them. Everyone in his family wears purple shirts and they tell stories at night that leave John feeling special, as if he better than everyone else and is clad in royal garb. John Q. is reinforced in his world view thousands of times either by receiving kudos for touting his beliefs or alienation when he expresses doubt. Now, suppose as he grows up, he meets people who wear green shirts — and these people are just as happy and healthy as the people who wear purple shirts. This is shocking to John because it does not fit the rules his brain has told him are “the right way to do things.” John’s belief system is threatened by the green shirters.

Now, let’s suppose someone who John trusts and reveres tells him the green shirters are out to destroy those who wear purple and that unless he fights back, his way of life will be destroyed. John has already had a lifetime of learning the purple shirt way as well as all the dangers that come from questioning things. At this point, he has essentially two choices, namely admit that everything he has ever thought about purple-shirt-dom may be wrong or firm up his own belief that purple shirts are the only way to go.

What do you suppose John will do? My bet is on him siding with his own. But why?

From the outside, we cannot always point clearly what it is that causes a person, group, or culture to hold the beliefs they do. What we can say is it takes an incredible level of mental and emotional awareness and flexibility to go against closely held beliefs and, if challenged in any significant way, we may even hold even more to what we know. If we are not mindful when faced with such dilemmas, our brains will confabulate and spout plausible, but erroneous, stories to help us save face. To our brains, maintaining the social status quo is often far more important than adhering to our personal values. To do that, we need something more than a brain.

I have watched for several days now as factions of people have hurled accusations at each other. Honestly, in some ways we are all complaining about the very thing we ourselves are doing — and this behavior does not stem from a place of mindful awareness or mental flexibility, but from rigidity driven by fear. Pair this with safety in numbers, incredible neural processing speed, the deep core need to feel significant and to connect to our fellow human, and you have yourself a recipe for denial and subterfuge. This is what happens when the brain, supported by other agreeable brains, runs the show.

Notice I said when the brain runs the show. The brain, not the mind, not the person as a whole, not the endorsed value system. The truth is, when left to its own devices, the brain is a highly self-limiting instrument. It needs a governing mind and spirit to give it present-moment flexibility and that seems to be missing more and more these days. I believe we need to realize this and make some changes both in how we conduct ourselves and in how we approach others. We need to understand where our behavior comes from and create an atmosphere that allows for safe challenging of old paradigms.

There is more to say on the current situation — but for now, take some time. Slow down. Think about what you believe and why. Think about how you came to your beliefs and the times you have known yourself to be wrong and yet you struggled to make changes. Ask yourself why it was so hard? Then remember that this same struggle is had by all.

Every one of us is guilty of believing falsehoods and yet in so doing, we do not all incite riots. True as that is, until we realize that blame throwing, judgment, grandstanding, and violence, only trigger mechanisms of defense in us that greatly limit our potential and that there is a better way forward than this, not much is likely to change.

And, I don’t know about you, but I, for sure, am ready for some change.

Written by book author, blogger, & educational/motivational speaker, Hannah Smith, MA LMHC CGP. Founder and owner of Potential Finders Network, Hannah provides consultation, training, and personal development services. Hannah’s passion is to see people reach their potential and find lasting, positive change. If you have topics you want to suggest, please don’t hesitate to contact her at Hannah@PotentialFinders.com and check out www.PotentialFinders.com or https://www.facebook.com/PotentialFindersNetwork to learn more.