June 17, 2011 2:59 PM
Last september I revisited my post-grad work in cog sci. The last couple days I ran onto a bunch of research that is a real leap forward in understanding how the brain really works in real social life.
- underlying neural subsystems and features have evolved. The full implications of that sets a strong biological evolutionary foundation for understanding and modeling mental and behavioral dynamics. (viz. cooperation/competition in a resource consuming community, types of social relations, . etc.)
- the role of conscious processes is much narrower than the academic model had presumed to the point where such basic notions as free will, intention, and objectivity now beg to be reinterpreted.
The two key areas of research I bumped into:
nisbett and wilson (see previous entry) - there may be little or no direct introspective access to higher order cognitive processes
Secondly Bargh, Morsella, etc
- Both conscious and unconscious mind (processes) are flexible, complex, controlling, deliberative, and action-oriented.
- intentional action is not limited to conscious actions
- several independent unconscious behavioral guidance systems: perceptual, evaluative, and motivational.
- “actions of an unconscious mind precede the arrival of a conscious mind...” “...action precedes reflection.”
- Much of social life is experienced through non-conscious mental processes. These processes are triggered and nudged by the immediate social environment (group membership, behavior quality, norm’s, status) and are a part of what guides one in routine life. (In other words, social life is pretty automatic and normative)