Quote:
Originally Posted by Clodfobble
I agree with you that it is because their cognitive brain is not functioning exclusively, the way you wish it were--but operating out of the emotional brain is not a rare or dramatic thing. It does not require drunkenness, or youthfulness, or a need for revenge. It is how normal (as in, the majority) of people go through everyday life.
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At no time does the term 'inferior' apply. Concepts were defined. Now put perspective to those concepts. In some cases, impulses from a primitive (emotional) brain are so strong as to overwhelm cognitivie thinking.
For example, why were tobacco companies marketing nicotene laced candy? Manipulate (chemically brainwash) future customers by filling 5 year old brains with nicotene. Addicting someone sooner to makes smoking more desireable. A 5 year old intentionally addicted to nicotene would need extremely strong cognititive functions to keep primitive impulses in check.
A peer would immediately (subconciously) get his gun when the house went quiet. A reaction from the 'fear' center because silent crickets meant Charlie was about to attack. His cognitive response was to leave a radio on all night.
Sometimes the cognitive brain cannot control impulses without a crutch. The radio, for him, was that crutch. We know increasing cigarettes prices has been quite successful helping cigarette addicts to quit. Another crutch.
A man suddenly became a pedophile. He kept insisting something internally had gone wrong. Eventually doctors took him seriously. Scans discovered a massive brain tumor. When that tumor was removed, pedophile desires disappeared. Some years later, those impuluses returned. He dealt with it cognitively rather than let them control him. Scans discovered the tumor had regrown. A second brain surgery removed that tumor; no more pedophile desires.
Examples of how a cognitive brain might deal with impulses. Sometimes crutches are needed. But we don't always have those tools. Since psychology was (until recently) one step above blood letting. Tools to actually understand how brains work (ie PET scan) have only recently been developed.
Perspective. Understanding why one reacts emotionally does not necessarily result in a solution. Sometimes a primitive brain requires cognitive actions that are beyond that person's ability. We really have only started to understand this organ.
Cigarette smokers may know cigarettes kill. But impulses from the primitive brain can be too powerful (imagine how much stronger had the Attorney Generals not discovered tobacco industry candies). So powerful that destructive behavior is actually desired. A cognitive brain just cannot control those impulses. Perspective.
Appreciate how powerful one must be, cognitively, to stay off heroine. Cognitive tools (crutches) include moving far from venues where heroine was once consumed.
The most adult among us are so much in control as to not use profanity. Profanity is often an indication of one who let's lower level functions rule his actions. Not to be confused with how Craig Furgeson and Lenny Bruce use it for comical effect.