What are the results, in modern day society, of having occasional conscious analysis, but mostly defaulting to the hardware brain programming of subconscious reaction?
I explained how the mind function of subconscious reaction, seems to be outdated and outpaced by the complexities of modern day society, in my last post; “Update Pending: Subconsciousness”. And how the process of subconscious reaction seems to be the method which is more beneficial for a simple environment, by using only a vague range of factors saved in memory, to determine a reaction. Conscious thought seems it should be more effective in modern day, with its ability to analyse more specific details, out of the significant increase of quantity of variables in the context of human society.
It seems common for people to use conscious analysis in circumstances where there is a lot of time, and an important complicated decision at hand. But is this often enough? If people default to subconscious reaction, for the majority of life's interactions, this could result in a reaction which is oversimplified, for the complexity of the factors involved in the scenario. In order to comprehend sequential causes and effects of any reaction or decision at hand, it requires detailed analysis of memories of the concepts involved in the situation. Without the update of more common conscious thought and comprehension, the extenuating effects of an action are quickly overlooked and not accounted for.
For eg, I’m driving, and see a Mcdonalds up ahead, and my subconscious reaction, is to stop in and buy a big mac, since the only factors my subconscious take into account, are that my hunger is triggering the basic memories of the food tasting good. But otherwise, with conscious analysis, I would comprehend the concept of the ingredients in the food, and that eating the big mac meal will sequentially cause me to be less healthy. Also, I might comprehend the concept of financing, and the effect of the negative contribution toward my bank account balance being reduced, by overspending funds on such food, when better food could be purchased for much less cost. It takes conscious analysis of the detailed extenuating effects, caused by the factors involved.
If the majority of people coast through life on default mode, of subconscious reaction, they neglect to comprehend important effects, which are too long-term, and involve too many sequences of cause and effect, for subconscious reaction to take into account. This leaves a narrow perspective of the effects, which the actions cause. The lack of accurate distinguishment of the outcome, caused by all detailed and relevant effects of any actions taken, within the complex circumstances of human society, results in a lack of awareness of of many negative effects, which could otherwise be prevented, using conscious comprehension. The negative side effects of a basic outlook on actions, are not only relevant to the individual, but also extenuating to others, as collateral damage.
Using the narrow perspective of (subconscious) reaction to circumstantial triggers, neglects the consideration of negative side-effects, caused directly to others. For eg, stealing someone’s wallet, subconsciously seems beneficial for the individual, but it would take conscious comprehension, of the residuating effects toward that victim, such as their potential urgent need for the money, ID, or other important cards, inside the wallet.
But lack of conscious understanding can also lead to lack of awareness of indirect, long-term negative contributional effects, toward more complex aspects of the world. For eg, a millionaire decides to buy a nice new Hummer, because subconsciously, they will enjoy the higher status of which others perceive them. Otherwise, with conscious awareness of contributional concepts, they would comprehend that the 10’s of thousands of dollars wasted on the Hummer, could potentially go toward saving hundreds of peoples lives, who are starving to death. It takes complex analysis, requiring conscious thought, to understand that money wasted on 1 unimportant thing (which may be intended to simply boost their own ego), could alternatively go toward the contribution of a charity, where the funding would have an exponentially more positive effective. Additionally, using conscious thought would allow the individual to comprehend that the Hummer causes excessive pollution, which negatively contributes toward climate change, which therein contributes toward massive extenuating negative effects and risks for the entire planet.
Using the function of subconscious reaction, can be useful in simple situations, when time is urgent, and with minor extenuating effects, caused by the circumstances involved. But using this method of reaction as a default, through life, can cause many negative unintended side effects, within the complexity of the modern day world. With technology, complicated networks of interactions, and a high quantity of variables, which humans interact with regularly, many negative effects are caused, and potential positive effects are overlooked and missed, without the accurate analysis of conscious comprehension. The default hardware function of subconscious reaction, seems to be quite dangerous with its narrow perspective.
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