Posted by alexandra_k on August 30, 2005, at 19:11:27
In reply to Re: Feelings - Gardener Girl » Gabbix2, posted by alexandra_k on August 30, 2005, at 6:12:57
Don't get freaked - I'll explain it.
A -> [ B -> {C -> E ->} F -> ] G
........[............{D ->......}........]Okay... So its hard without being able to draw pictures... Everything inside the [square brackets] is happening inside your brain. Everything inside {this kind of bracket} is consciously experienced. A and G are outside the square brackets so they are external stimuli (A) and response (G).
So A causes changes in your brain state (or to be fair changes in your body state -> changes to your brain state) and Neither A or the next step of processing (B) are under your conscious control. This step (B) is 'pre-conscious processing'. Then those states (which aren't under your control) cause a conscious state in you (C). You didn't get to choose to experience that state! But it is true that that state is happening in you. It is certainly true that you do in fact have that emotion (thought or whatever) and it is also certainly true that you did not choose to have it occur to you.
But once it has occured to you...
I think it is supposed to depend on what state you are experiencing...
If you are angry (as an example) then part of what it means to be angry (by definition) is that you judge that something UNFAIR or UNJUST has happened. That definition isn't exhaustive, but I just want to work with that example. Anger is (sometimes) a response to perceived injustice. It might well be right that the initial perception of unfairness was involountary - it was outside your control (B). And the initial experience of anger was likewise involountary - it is outside your control (C).
(How pointless to BLAME people for the perceptions, emotions, experiences, thoughts that occur to them...)
BUT: If you are really f*cking mad AND you know that anger is a response to perceived injustice (for example - thats not supposed to be an exhaustive definition) then it might be worth having a little look at whether other interpretations are possible. So knowledge of the causes of anger (stimuli plus 'pre-conscious processing / interpretation) is what D is supposed to be. And together... C and D can cause a change in consciously experienced state (a lesser (more manageable, less painful) experience of anger (for example. Thats E.
Maybe the person didn't INTEND to do something injust (which makes it harder to be mad at them, though still possible to be mad about / disaproving of the action).
And so then one may be able to feel a little better. Less mad.
SO: The initial response just occurs (C)...
But then we have choices with respect to what we do with that response (C). What we do with it determines our response at the next instant in time (E) (another consciously experienced state and a signal to motor production areas (F)) which produces a response in the world (G).
Does this make any sense at all?????
(it is supposed to be fairly rough)
poster:alexandra_k
thread:548417
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20050824/msgs/548881.html