Feel first, think second: is our brain really cut out for the modern world? | Big Think

Feel first, think second: is our brain really cut out for the modern world?
, with Paul Bloom, Dan Ariely, Daniel Dennett and more

The brain's job is not to pass a math test, get a promotion at work, or win a Nobel Prize. Our brain's only job is to make sure we survive today, and that we live to see another. Our brain' system worked well for us when humanity's only job was to hunt for food and fight for survival. But enter into the modern-day, our brain is not working so well as we have to rationalize problems like genetically modified foods and climate change.

This is something we have to accept about our minds and better understand how our brain works in order to better avoid pitfalls in the future. In the coming years, because of modern technology, we will be able to better identify weaknesses in our rationality and thought patterns. Once we flag these weaknesses, we can make changes to our thinking patterns so that our brains have the tools to make us more rational decision-makers.

So, how do we start thinking more rationally in the 21st century? Experts tell us that we will have to think from an outsider's perspective. To better adapt our fight or flight brains to the modern-day, we will have to step outside of our emotions, reframe our thoughts, and see things from a new perspective.

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Chapters:
0:00 David Ropeik - Is our brain equipped for modern day thinking?
0:51 Daniel Dennett - Can rationality be avoided by future thinking tools?
1:33 Dan Ariely - Looking from an outsider's perspective
2:53 Julia Galef - Rationality in careers and relationships
3:12 David Ropeik - Our brain chemistry on why we act from emotions
4:22 Julia Galef - Bayes’ Rule
4:51 Daniel Dennett - Blind spots in our own thinking
6:17 Paul Bloom - Are we prisoners of our emotions?

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Read more of our stories on rational thinking:
Extending Descartes to Embody Our Social Rational Souls
Why do smart people do dumb things?
Creativity is the subconscious mind combined with intuition and rationality

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[bigthink]

How do you help yourself think more rationally?

[VallisYT]

I am afraid that we are not as rational as we would like to think. I really like the metaphor of the elephant and the rider: the elephant is your emotional intuition, shaped by your evolutionary, cultural, and social heritage, and the rider is your rationality. The elephant walks in whatever direction he pleases, and the rider subsequently tries to come up with post-hoc explanations for why the elephant did what he did. This means when we make decisions we tend to look inward to our gut feeling, and use our rationality to come up with explanations for our decisions. That also explains why in most cases you cannot change another person's mind by arguments—the arguments people give for their position are not the reason why they chose this position in the first place. Thus, a better way to have discussions with people seems to be to not address the rider (i.e., provide argument after argument), but to address the elephant—be friendly, listen to the other person, don’t try to “destroy” them with your arguments. And don't force the other person to change their mind; instead, bring forth your best argument and then give them time to draw their own conclusions. This way may seem frustrating and slow, but in my experience, it is the best way to have a constructive discussion.

[QuotableVision]

. "Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it." -Charles Swindoll

[.vs.Entertainment]

Correction:
The question should be - "Is the modern world cut out for our brains"
Our brains aren't the problem..our ideas of how to structure society are the problem.

[wadeorth]

At no point do they say "your feelings are wrong." They are saying oftentimes your first reaction is generally more emotional, and so to make sure you're not making a purely emotional decision you might want to slow down. Some people stick with gut reactions and possibly more emotional decisions. Sometimes they are right, but that could be confused with intuition which is not always entirely rational.

[allisonnovak]

My foundation: My home as sanctuary, strong boundaries, and good self care. Having this foundation helps me tremendously. If I notice that I am reacting to something emotionally, I don’t verbalize. Next, I engage in inward dialogue, cognitively reframing the situation; which helps me to diffuse emotional thinking and the desire to respond impulsively.

Doesn’t always work, but today I was successful with it. I thought about the situation tonight and realized some benefits. 1) It was good to remain quiet, words can never be retrieved; it’s priceless not to be plagued with regret. 2) Because I was able to cognitively reframe the situation in real time, there hasn’t been a lingering emotional sting, and no ruminating.

Bonus!

I tend to be more of an emotional thinker rather than a logical thinker. Realizing and accepting that has been helpful. Somehow lately when logic is called for I can summon it almost as if it is external.

It’s an ongoing quest, I am on the path.

[kellielejeune]

For some reason, I felt this video suggested we disregard our emotions in decision making. There is still a reason they happen first, in lieu of rational thought. I think we need to equate the importance of both. Emotion is what inspires people for change to begin with. Rational thought never got me to clean my house, otherwise my house would always be spotless. Some emotional state got me motivated.
However, I do agree we need more processing time and space to weave both minds at once to make the most WISE decision.

[uneedtherapy]

good video but they failed to touch upon the most important idea that the brain pathways that lead to emotion and feelings are much quicker pathways than those than lead to the neo-cortex or the "rational" part of the brain. A lot of this is hard wired. That is why therapy (cognitive) can help people. Just read Antonio Damasio's books and Joesph Ledoux's books to understand the underlying mechanisms that cause all this to happen. Both those guys are amazing writers and can explain really complex stuff in a conversational way

[frankdelahue]

“They think that intelligence is about noticing things are relevant (detecting patterns); in a complex world, intelligence consists in ignoring things that are irrelevant (avoiding false patterns)”
― Nassim Nicholas Taleb

[SkegAudio]

We tend to forget that we're the feeling animal that thinks not the thinking animal that feels.

[ross]

Good advice but I would say instincts and first impressions are powerful and you ignore them at your own risk. Your brain is often pretty amazing at sizing up situations in an instant.

[adtc]

My trick is to "sleep on it." Literally.

[DemetriPanici]

*"You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength." - Marcus Aurelius*

[a.randomjack]

I think we made a society we are not adapted for. Basically, we evolved as tribal creatures which is one reason why there is so much individual anxiety which is also constantly used and triggered by states and corporations for whatever goal they have.
The problem is not you. This society generates sociopaths which often end at the top of organizations

[joelstephenson]

I think it's about time and place too. When you're just socialising, you don't want to be too logical necessarily. You may just want to have a good time and let your emotions express themselves. I guess we just need to be able to switch to the appropriate mode easily.

[QuotableVision]

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined." -Henry David Thoreau

[DemetriPanici]

*"Only I can change my life, no one can do it for me" - Carol Burnett*

[hanyoo]

I like the vibe that you've changed recently in your youtube videos. It feels more cool and professional I think.

[Edward_R]

2:54 to 3:09 what she explained it's also known as "The sunk cost fallacy", I loved this type of videos, feel like all my readings on psychology and other related topics complement a lot with what all these professionals say :D

[SplittingField]

Julia's book is a far better treatment of this material than 7 minute video can accomplish and understandably so. In particular, her first chapters which explored the value of irrational thinking was very welcome. First understand why something continues to exist before thinking about why and how to move away from it. I think we've all experienced that "just be more rational LOL" as an approach is doomed to fail if we don't understand why it's so useful to not be. Very much like "just eat less" as a weight-loss tactic is often doomed to fail if you don't also address the psychological hunger, triggers and habits that cause the overeating in the first place.