1/ We take decisions rationally but choose whether to enact them emotionally.
This explains lot of the "bugs" in our behavior.
(explanation below)
This explains lot of the "bugs" in our behavior.
(explanation below)
2/ Our brain could be simplified as follows:
- Our Cortex perceives the world and proposes actions
- Our Basal Ganglia (BG) decides whether to enact them
Example: my cortex decides that, rationally, I should write that essay. But my BG decides not to act on that.
- Our Cortex perceives the world and proposes actions
- Our Basal Ganglia (BG) decides whether to enact them
Example: my cortex decides that, rationally, I should write that essay. But my BG decides not to act on that.
3/ Usually, our cortex proposes a set of actions, which might be ordered by importance.
Example: my cortex proposes, in order of importance, to first write the essay and then watch YouTube
But my BG decides not to enact the first, and I end up spending the evening watching YT.
Example: my cortex proposes, in order of importance, to first write the essay and then watch YouTube
But my BG decides not to enact the first, and I end up spending the evening watching YT.
4/ (I'm making some huge simplification in this thread; people interested in detailed neurological explanations can check my research on luca-dellanna.com/research
But let's continue with the thread)
But let's continue with the thread)
5/ A key info: our cortex does not get to see what our Basal ganglia (BG) decides nor why.
Our cortex can only observe what we end up doing, and come up with confabulations with why we did that.
Our cortex can only observe what we end up doing, and come up with confabulations with why we did that.
6/ For example, yesterday I did not go running as I planned.
My cortex planned to run, but my BG decided not to act on that. Faced with the fact that my BG wasn't outputting the order to go out and run, my cortex confabulated that I was tired.
My cortex planned to run, but my BG decided not to act on that. Faced with the fact that my BG wasn't outputting the order to go out and run, my cortex confabulated that I was tired.
7/ Please note the real order of events.
It's not: I'm tired → I decide not to run.
It's: I decide not to run → I confabulate it's because I'm tired.
It's not: I'm tired → I decide not to run.
It's: I decide not to run → I confabulate it's because I'm tired.
8/ How does the BG decide whether to enact or not an action proposed by the cortex?
Short answer: it does if the action has a positive "Expected Emotional Outcome", as determined on the basis of past emotional experiences (both first-hand and vicarious ones).
Short answer: it does if the action has a positive "Expected Emotional Outcome", as determined on the basis of past emotional experiences (both first-hand and vicarious ones).
9/ Long answer: the BG enacts an action proposed by the cortex if the action is expected to reduce the risks to which the individual is subject to, as subjectively determined through emotional experiences (both first-hand and vicarious); …
(continues)
(continues)
10/ …in case of multiple proposed actions which are expected to reduce the risks, then the one which is expected to reduce them the most is selected.
Now, some caveats:
Now, some caveats:
11/ The Basal Ganglia is unable to make second-order considerations (only the cortex can).
12/ This is why often we plan to do something which is first-order costly but second-order good (eg subscribing to the gym) but end up not doing it. Our cortex sees the long-term potential of doing it, but not our BG (who can only see first-order effects, unless…
13/ …unless we experienced emotionally the second-order benefits.
Eg. after we experience that going to the gym brings benefits, our BG becomes able to see the long-term effects of going to the gym.
Why? Because emotional experiences encode 2nd order effects as 1st order ones.
Eg. after we experience that going to the gym brings benefits, our BG becomes able to see the long-term effects of going to the gym.
Why? Because emotional experiences encode 2nd order effects as 1st order ones.
14/ This means that the key to get ourselves to do something we are reticent to, is to somehow get us to do it once and ensure - somehow - that we immediately see some benefit, in order to create a positive association between the activity and the reward in our Basal Ganglia.
15/ In other words, we must try whatever we can to ensure that those activities which are good for us in the long term have an INTUITIVE association with a positive EMOTIONAL experience.
INTUITIVE & EMOTIONAL, because that's what differentiates the BG from the cortex.
INTUITIVE & EMOTIONAL, because that's what differentiates the BG from the cortex.
16/ Rationally knowing that something is good for you, will only make you plan for it; it will not make you do it
Intuitively knowing that something is good for you, instead, is what will make you do it
Focus on creating positive EMOTIONAL associations with what is good for you
Intuitively knowing that something is good for you, instead, is what will make you do it
Focus on creating positive EMOTIONAL associations with what is good for you
17/ Do not train your cortex; train your basal ganglia.
18/ Virtuosity is mostly a property of your basal ganglia; not of your cortex (i.e. it's not what you think, but what you do).
19/ Related:
20/ By the way, I since then implemented the above in this online course: gum.co/futureself
