The Notion of Emotion

How does emotion function?

Emotion is such a common element of humanity, that its functionality is often taken for granted. But perhaps it should be more distinctly analysed and understood. Assuming emotion was developed through evolution, it should have a cause and effect, developed with a benefit for survival and reproduction. Happiness would be basically a positive reinforcement method, and sadness, fear and pain would basically be a negative reinforcement method.

Happiness would have developed to reward circumstances beneficial for survival and reproduction. Food that tastes good, causes enjoyment as reinforcement to continue eating more food which proved to be helpful to the species in those circumstances. Exercise causes a sensation of reward, as it makes the body healthier. Sex is bliss, as it enables reproduction and survival of the species. In some species, there’s a natural inclination of accomplishment, causing ambition and task motivation, since exploring or solving problems often results in finding easier methods to survive.

Sadness is naturally the effect of lacking something which would help survive. Loneliness would be a lack of assistance from others of the same species, in animals which survive better in a group. Fear is triggered by conditions which endanger the individual, causing high risk. Physical pain simply reinforces the individual to avoid causing themselves physical harm.

These emotions are natural and instinctual. They are pre programmed by genetics to be triggered by a range of circumstances. The boundaries of the range of circumstances which trigger emotional feedback, have been proven over many generations to repeatedly be beneficial for survival of that species. The brain is programmed for each emotion, to react to the range of circumstances, when sensory input detects a near enough resemblance to a situation which should be avoided or pursued. For eg. a person receives sensory input, via sight, of the resemblance of a large animal in a dark forest, and instinctively feels fear as encouragement to run. Or a person receives the sense of taste, resembling fruit, and naturally receives positive reinforcement of enjoyment, to cause them to pursue eating that food, which was proven to be beneficial for health.

In my previous post; Memory Priority, I touched on how emotion also has a significant influence on memory. Through an individual's’ subjective memory of experience in their lifetime, the emotional feedback triggers allow a customized set of reactions to particular circumstances. After an individual experiences scenarios where the emotional feedback is triggered, they are reinforced to avoid or pursue more detailed and specific sensory input linked with those circumstances. This is basically subconscious (and potentially conscious) memory of their experiences, where emotions have triggered positive or negative feedback, based on more specific factors.

Emotions are the default, built-in reinforcement triggers, developed over long periods of generations, for those broad ranges of circumstances, which can be triggered by basic resemblances detected by sensory input. Along with those instinctive, basic scenarios which cause emotional feedback, emotions also allow more specific and accurate reinforcement, as a result of subconscious memory, throughout an individual's experience. Emotion seems to be included in very practical and functional processes. The notion of which, should be quite useful to be understood.

Memory Priority

What effect does prioritizing memory have?

If someone conservatively and awarefully prioritizes memories, rather than allowing just any memories to be ranked for priority, naturally, would this cause a beneficial outcome?

The definition and comparison of “natural” vs “aware”, can be ambiguous. I’m basically referring to “awarefully” prioritizing memory, as consciously analysing the specific and relevant causes and effects. Whereas I’m referring to “naturally”, as a subconscious “reaction” with a less analysed or less actively considered understanding of detailed causes and effects regarding circumstances at hand.

What I mean by prioritizing memories, is considering experiences or information to be significant enough to be remembered more distinctly and easily. There are basically 2 methods (that I’m aware of) for information or experiences to be remembered more distinctly. 1 would be repetition, the other would be profound feedback linked with the memory.  

In the scenario of someone letting memories be prioritized naturally, the 1st method of memory, would cause memories to be prioritized simply by reoccuring circumstances in their life. A huge determining factor of this method, would be the individual's upbringing. Whatever fluke circumstances of life that someone happens to be born into, would cause repetition throughout their childhood. This repetition would then hypothetically cause a relevant degree of memory to be prioritized by whatever they were taught, and whatever actions they took repeatedly, as a child.

The 2nd method of naturally prioritized memory would hypothetically also be caused by fluke circumstances during their upbringing, but significantly influenced by emotional feedback to their circumstances. If the chemical and electrical function of emotion (potentially another sub-topic) is understood to be a feedback trigger linked to the memory of any given circumstance, then genetic and instinctual emotional subjection would be a huge factor in this 2nd method of memories being prioritized. If someone is born with a genetic disposition to be more profoundly influenced by emotional feedback in some way or another, then this should have a relevant impact on which memories are prioritized throughout their circumstantial upbringing. But fluke circumstances could also play a significant role in this methods influence (even without repetition). For eg, if someone has a traumatic experience as a child, such as being severely abused, then the natural emotional feedback would likely be profound fear of resembling factors to that circumstance.

In the scenario of someone awarefully and conservatively prioritizing memories, the 1st method of memory priority (being repetition), could hypothetically be altered and diverted to disregard unuseful repeated memories, and replace them with an intentional alternate repetition. By consciously analyzing effects of any given repeated action, someone can determine the degree of benefit of said effects. If an alternate memory (of experience or information), caused by repetition, is determined to be more preferable, the individual can intentionally cause repetition of that more beneficial memory of information or experience.

With the 2nd method being reinforcement triggers, someone could “awarefully” analyze specific details of any given circumstance, then determine more accurate effects, then cause more preferable feedback. Someone could consciously analyzes a situation, which would naturally seem insignificant, but comprehend detailed causes and effects which are actually important for a better resulting effect. After this comprehension, significant positive reinforcement can be linked with the circumstances (occuring by considering it relevant, and causing chemical positive reinforcement) which were understood in detail to be beneficial.

Or, in another case, of profound reinforcement being naturally triggered by a circumstance, conscious comprehension can determine the circumstances to not be so highly prioritized. With the eg. of trauma, awareful prioritization can allow a reduction of fear to factors resembling the scenario which caused the initial trauma. With distinguishment of differentials (as described here) within the traumatic situation, the individual can determine the specific details of that which caused the negative situation of trauma. Then, they can understand that factors which are resembling (but not precisely the same), would not cause the same negative traumatic situation to occur again. With this understanding comes a reduction of priority of those factors being negatively linked in memory, and therein reduction of fear of those resembling factors, which don’t actually cause the particular negative outcome.

As seems to be the tendency with most concepts, conscious “awareful” decisions seem to allow much more preferable and beneficial results, compared to “natural” or subconscious reactions. Consideration of prioritizing memories, is virtually understanding the details of preferable effects, and intentionally causing more of those preferable effects. For better results, consciously prioritize your memories!

Maximum Intellect

What is a theoretical maximum for intellect?

By intellect, I am referring to; ability to accurately predict the outcome to any given scenario. With a higher accuracy of prediction, the individual can predict which specific adjustments to the cause of the outcome, are required to cause the resulting effect to be the most preferred. This ability allows problem solving, by accurately predicting the outcome of a solution, and the necessary adjustments to cause that solution.

By that definition of intellect, the maximum would be relative to the information available. If considering a relative maximum intellect, then the intellect should be as accurate as possible at determining influencing factors (as I explain further, in; Differential Distinguishment), based on what information is accessible.

A low intellect level would make an inaccurate prediction of the outcome of any scenario, without considering the details of causes of factors within the scenario. By considering fewer and only basic factors at hand, the probability of making an accurate prediction, should be much less. Whereas the maximum intellect (without knowledge of all information), would distinguish all minor differentials within the scenario, for which it has knowledge of. It would calculate the effect of every specific factor, no matter how minor or how many factors. Taking into account how each specific detail influences the overall outcome, should allow the most accurate and therefore most probable prediction of the scenario.

Besides a relative maximum intellect, theoretically, there could also be an absolute maximum intellect. This intellect would need access to any and all information. It would need to know every specific detail about every aspect of any situation, down to individual molecules and particles. Besides knowing the state or condition of every particle, it would need to have the knowledge of the cause and effect of each particle, relative to every influence on that particle. This would be incredibly difficult and complicated, even within the context of a simple scenario, but for this intellect to be absolutely maximized, it would need to know every particle in the universe.

In order for an intellect to have access to that much information, it would seem the information would need to consist of almost as many particles as the universe itself. But if information about large groups of particles was condensed, then it should be theoretically possible for the information about the universe, to consist of a smaller mass, than the universe itself.

Information about details seem to be quite relevant, when it comes to maximum intellect. Whether its information about all particles within the universe, or just regarding the most relevant factors available, within context, the most specific details about cause and effect is prerequisite for a maximum intellect.

Differential Distinguishment

Distinguishing differences could be the key to intellect.

If intelligence evolved from animals to humans, by the brain being able to access more accurate details of memories, in order to make a more accurate prediction of a given situation, then distinguishing the differences in circumstances seems to be crucial.

I’m basing this on the assumption that animals use mainly subconscious mindsets to take action, as opposed to humans who sometimes use conscious analysis to make a decision. Animals use subconscious to simply take whichever action has the most significant feedback connected to it, within memory of the closest resembling circumstances to the present. Whereas humans can decide which action to take, by analysing memories of resembling circumstances, and of relevant factors within.

Under this assumption, the key to being more intelligent, seems to be the ability to determine more specific differences within any circumstances. The faster, yet more basic brain function of subconscious, takes a more general analysis of the circumstances, by comparing them to whichever simple memory matches best. But the more complex function of conscious thought, picks the more specific relevant factors within the circumstances, to result in a more accurate prediction. If analysis of more specific details stored in memory, causes a more accurate prediction, then distinguishing differentials seems to be 1 of the main causes of higher intelligence.

Within any circumstances, in order to make the most accurate prediction, and therein decision, any minor detailed differences should be determined. If the prediction of the circumstances is trying to make an estimate of the result, then any minor detail differences can be distinguished, then determined of their influence on the end result.

The overall concept seems quite clear and logical. The more specific the details of factors known within any circumstances, the more accurately the cause and effect of all the factors can be determined. By more accurately determining the effect of the details, the most accurate prediction of the overall result, can be made, using this prospect of Differential Distinguishment.

Choice

What is choice?

What mental ability is required to make a choice?

Choice could be considered to be; the awareful option to take an alternate action.

It seems fundamental that the individual should be aware of the option, because without that awareness, they would be simply taking an action because either they believe it is their only option, or they don't comprehend the concepts involved in their own action resulting in a different outcome.

So the minimal mental ability to be able to make a choice, seems to be the mental comprehension that the individual themselves, are able to cause an alternate result, by their action. In order to comprehend that an alternate action can cause an alternate result, they should be able to comprehend the concept of cause and effect. They must be able to understand that alternate effects are possible as a result of an alternate cause. They also must be able to comprehend that they are able to alter that cause of that effect.

It should be possible that the individual does not comprehend the concept of cause and effect, in general, as long as they can have the awareness of cause and effect within the specific circumstances. But by my understanding, in most circumstances, most animals do not even have this minimal comprehension. This is if animals mostly act on subconscious feedback, by simply taking the action which has the most significant feedback, connected to the memory most resembling the current scenario. Also, similarly, animals don’t seem to use comprehension if they act on instinctual feedback, as then they are taking an action based on feedback to basic situations, which is triggered by genetics (rather than memory).

But for an individual to actually comprehend their ability to take an alternate action, and therefore cause an alternate effect, they should be able to access the information of both potential actions, and both potential results caused by each action. If the individual can simultaneously access memory of that information, they should then effectively comprehend, in that moment, that they have the capability to cause an alternate result.

The key for the ability to make a choice, seems to be conscious comprehension. An individual needs to have the capability to be aware that they have a choice, and that their action can cause a different outcome. In order to be aware of alternate potential outcomes, they need to comprehend the cause and effect of the options. If they are conscious of the cause and effect of their actions, relative to the results, they can then cause that which is most preferable to them, by making their choice.

Conscious Control

How is conscious control applied?

And, what are the potential maximum effects of its implementation?

For this explanation, Conscious Control can be understood as; the concept of using comprehension and awareness, to override emotion, subconscious mindsets, and instinctual drive to effectively control your mind.

By my hypothesis, conscious control can be applied simply by actively accessing memories of relevant and relative information. This seems common and easy enough, but applying this to a certain extent can be uncommon and difficult.

In normal circumstances subconscious mindsets and instinctual drive take over a lot of the steering wheel of the mind. Typically, in any simple situation, someone will just react quickly, based on mindsets which they are unaware of, at the time. A mindset builds from circumstances which are imprecisely resembling, occurring repetitively. If the similar circumstances occur enough with a similar result of positive or negative reinforcement, then a mindset is built to pursue or avoid those circumstances. To apply conscious control, and override the mindset, the individual needs to actively access memories of more precise information. Accessing more memories of accurate causes and effect of present factors, should no doubt result in a more accurate prediction of outcome of the situation. The more accurately that information in memories are accessed, the more probable the person (or AI, or alien, or intellectually advanced animal ;) is to be able to make a decision which is beneficial to them.

Just like mindsets, emotion or instinct will often drive an individual to take an action based on loose and inaccurate presets. Instinct is more like a genetic preset reaction to pursue or avoid basic scenarios, if no mindset has been built from recurring experiences which would outrank the instinct. Emotions are virtually preset reinforcement triggers. Emotions can be triggered by reacting to basic sensory input of instinctual drive or subconscious mindsets. Once the emotion is in effect, it is often an overreigning influence on actions and decisions. The emotion can then cause avoidance or pursuance of new circumstances, even though the new situation was not that which triggered the original emotion. But just as it can over mindsets, conscious control can override it all, by actively accessing information of relevant cause and effect concepts, involving the specific factors at hand.

The maximum extents of conscious control are an interesting prospect. Hypothetically, conscious comprehension should be capable of completely controlling the mind and body. The biology of current humans might not allow such function of the brain, at this time, but this is hypothetical! Active awareness of concepts regarding the most beneficial outcome, could allow someone to endure any amount of pain. Pain is basically an instinctual reaction to harm of the body. But in certain circumstances, if someone actively comprehends that the physical harm is beneficial for a certain result, they could override the urge to avoid the pain.

A more practical and realistic application of conscious control could be resisting pursuance of a factor, which instinct or subconscious desire. For example, resisting addiction to a drug or unhealthy food. Active memory use should allow access to more accurate predictions of that which is beneficial to the individual. They can access memories of the concepts that the drug or unhealthy food will cause long term harm, then use that comprehension to force an alternate decision. Instinct or mindsets would urge them to pursue the drug or food, as they cause the effect of positive reinforcement in the brain. There is a lack of memory access of the relevant accurate information of the complex, long-term chain of effects of harm, which drugs or unhealthy food cause.

In the new age of complex scenarios, with a multitude of variables and information, the mind can be a complex mess of emotion, mindsets and instinct triggering each other. But there exists the potential to override the basic inaccurate information triggering, of an often less beneficial action. The active memory access of Conscious Control.

Mental Strength Testing

What is a potentially effective method for strength building of mental capabilities?

To continue from my last post about ways to implement learning by using conscious awareness and subconscious drive to their advantages, another method for boosting mentality should be an aspect of strength building. By intentionally testing your limits in a controlled environment, with the confidence of capabilities to handle the circumstances, useful skills can be learned.

By mentally testing yourself, this should allow a simulation of a potentially risky situation, but to gain knowledge of the cause and effect of influencing factors. Besides the conscious knowledge, positive results of controlling the circumstances should additionally contribute to influencing your subconscious that controlling the situation is a positive result, therefore causing you to be more inclined to repeat that positive result of control.

As an aspect of “Self-Conscious Self-Coercion”, intentionally putting yourself in a difficult situation that tests your abilities to handle the situation, should create positive results, as long as the test is not too difficult. With the positive results, you can then implement the methods of “self coercion”, by being consciously aware of the positive result, and or by rewarding yourself, to influence your subconscious and steer you toward obtaining that positive control without you even knowing it in the future. In order to test yourself without making it too difficult (and potentially failing, with a counteractive result), you can analyse what your capabilities are at the present time, based off of past results. Then, place yourself in circumstances where you are confident you will be able to handle the test.

The test can often be circumstances which you dislike, but want to have better control over, so it will often take that initial conscious comprehension of intentionally testing yourself for the purpose of building strength. Also, it should take will power to overpower your subconscious preference, in order to force yourself into the testing scenario. 1 example is attempting to control social anxiety. I used to have fairly significant social anxiety, and subconsciously preferred to avoid social situations, as well as acted nervous while in social situations. After consciously analysing this annoying mental disorder of social anxiety, I hypothesized that conditioning myself could be an effective way to overcome it. Then, after intentionally putting myself in social circumstances, despite my subconscious or instinctual utter despise of such a setting, I slowly gained conscious knowledge of affecting factors, and perhaps more significantly, influenced my subconscious to associate positivity with a social environment, from repeated positive results.

After you’ve tested yourself successfully, you can incrementally increase the difficulty of the test. Each time you accomplish the intended result, you can consciously comprehend various factors, in their cause and effect on you or the other factors in the circumstances. This will give you valuable information to predict similar future circumstances more accurately, as well as potentially apply that knowledge to further testing of increased difficulty. The accomplishment of each stage of testing, should additionally make it easier to conquer the circumstances via subconscious desire to succeed, which will likely be a driving influence behind actions, even when you don’t know it. Subsequential tests of increased difficulty should build mental strength to control similar circumstances for the future. Even without increasing difficulty, testing should still cause similar (though, likely less) strength building, by repetition more strongly affecting subconscious drive, and consciously remembered causes and effects of factors.

Another example of mental strength building, could be; testing control over addiction. I’ve also done this myself with addictive substances, such as caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine. The tests involved intentionally subjecting myself to the substance, then quitting for a minimum time period. The quitting period would be the opposite of my subconscious desire (as addiction is virtually entirely subconscious appeal), so forcing myself into the dis-preferable quitting period of the test took some will power, but the success caused my subconscious to be more geared toward the ability to stop when I consciously decide to.

Intentionally putting yourself into uncomfortable circumstances is the contrary to your subconscious inclination, but using that as a test to consciously control the situation can be effective. Using a situation which you’re confident that you will be able to control, should cause a positive result of success, to counteract your subconscious drive to prefer control, as well as gain conscious knowledge of various causes and effects of the situations. Your subconscious is an important muscle, which can be worked out, to test and build strength.