Monday 7 March 2005

Pic of the day: While in a "hot" state of mind, it is easy to focus too much on one aspect of the situation and forget other things that may have long-term consequences. (Screenshot from the anime Mahoraba - heartful days. No, it isn't all like that. I'm picking my screenshots selectively.)

Hot and cold mental states

In a heavily popularized article on the psychological work of George Loewenstein, I noticed the nifty expressions "hot states" and "cold states" of mind. The cold states of mind are those in which we can think rationally. In contrast, hot states of mind are those dominated by basic emotions such as fear, anger or lust. The work of Loewenstein et al shows that people in a cold state of mind is no more able to predict their behavior in a hot state than a stranger is. Conversely, people in the same hot state of mind are better at guessing each other's actions than they themselves were in a cold state of mind.

In other words, it is as if we were two or more different people in the same body. This does not only apply to sick and twisted souls that should be kept behind locked doors. No, it is the default human condition.

I think we have long suspected this. Or perhaps that's just me. Then again, I think most who don't know this are fools. And that's a bad thing. Ignorance is just a lack of facts and can be remedied by reading or listening to someone knowledgeable. Stupidity is just a lack of mental processing power and can be overcome by taking time to ponder the subject thoroughly. But foolishness is the willful disregard for reality that doesn't fit our worldview, and it is very hard to cure. It is also very common.

***

I am lucky in this, that I have few hot states. Anger can occur under extreme stress, and I have observed it. It is pretty scary. It is as if the colorful tapestry we usually call the real world is pulled aside to reveal another reality, so blindingly clear in its black and white that it is almost transparent. Something similar happens during existential fear. All the ordinary things become utterly insignificant. I can't say that I have ever felt lust that went quite that far, and I guess we should all be thankful for that.

This change of mind is dangerous. Because our sense of right and wrong is changed, we cannot be relied on to keep our resolutions, possibly not even our promises. And the fact that we are not prepared for it makes it doubly dangerous. For instance, many people have unprotected sexual intercourse with friends or even strangers, because during most of the time they simply cannot imagine that they would have such intercourse. Therefore they neither acquire mechanical protection, nor do they make plans to avoid the situation in which they are tempted. In their normal state of mind, these things are so far off that they cannot seriously believe it will happen. This despite the fact that it has happened before. That is the most curious thing. The first time is one thing. But the second, third, or eleventh time?

While sexual arousal can sometimes make people commit crimes or endanger their own life and others, it is also often benign. Anger has less redeeming traits. There are exceedingly few situations where anger makes things better instead of worse. I suppose this was different back when our ancestors had to compete with cave lions and bears for the ownership of the dwelling, but to react the same way to the landlord coming for the rent is a bad mistake. And the behavior that was appropriate toward vultures, hyenas and other scavengers is likely to cause trouble when directed toward the taxman. The primitive core of our brains may have trouble seeing this ... not while we are in our calm, rational state of mind, but when we are out of balance. Well, I'd say it takes more to bring me out of balance, but as they say: "Each men has his price". It is a rare saint that can never be brought into a hot state of mind, one way or another.

***

There are more hot states, of course. Fear, shyness, revulsion ... you may agree to eat a raw earthworm for a really large amount of money, but once you have it in your hands, it's unlikely that the amount has any influence at all on your next action. Hunger, thirst, tiredness: We all know what we ought to do, but we may not be there anymore when the situation arises. Instead, there is this other person with a very different goal and a very different outlook on life. Craving for pleasure drugs, or even for gambling. Or for playing City of Heroes ... OK, perhaps not, but I wouldn't be too sure: A Danish study showed that the level of dopamine in the brain – usually a sign of the body's pleasure center running wild – was higher in people playing violent computer games than in drug addicts on a high. Must ... go ... set villains on fire! ^_^* Now that's hot!