What am I thinking: Nature of thoughts 3
Peter
This series of articles explores the nature of thinking by drawing on a number of psychological explanatory models. The previous article provided an overview of the deepest level of thinking - the thoughts that are often outside our awareness and that have a strong connection to our emotions. This next article examines the double-edged sword of the virtual reality time machine (VRTM).
Our minds are the lens through which we see the world.
The main function of the mind is the taking in and storing of information about our experience, and then bringing it back to awareness when it is important and beneficial to do so. The mind is what allows us to experience the world, and depending on the kinds of inputs (experiences and environments) we are exposed to it also determines how we experience the world. This is what might be described as our world view, understanding or as we refer to a lot on this site perspective.
The mind has also developed to allow us to do some pretty amazing things. This is what has really set us apart from other earthlings. One of these superpowers is the ability to create stories, fantasies, images and other not real (though often based on reality) situations in our minds. This is what I’ll refer to as virtual reality (VR). This VR function means that we can rehearse situations which have not occurred or problem-solve by trying out solutions without the risk of failure, which can be useful for preparing ourselves for difficult situations. It also means we can approach new situations with a certain degree of intelligence and is important for creativity. This is how our ancestors developed tools, shared language and established their dominion over the earth. Being able to represent concrete things as abstract symbols or images, imagine possible futures, or forecast potential dangers has been extremely useful in terms of our survival and advancement as a species.
This is the next superpower, being able to send our minds back and forward in time, like a time machine (TM). We’ve already discussed how being able to think about what might happen tomorrow and make decisions now can be a life-changing ability. In the same way, we can recall past events in our lives (and others) which again can be extremely helpful for making decisions in the present.
Being able to create simulations in our minds, look into the past and think about the future are two of the most important developments in the human brain. However, this has not been without problems.
The challenge with VRTM ability is that our simulations, although not real, can often trigger very real emotions in us. For example, recalling a funny story or image in my head will trigger a smile or a laugh. This might also make similar memories (past) or fantasies (future) more accessible (What are Emotions). Andy’s article The Brain's Response to Threat, discusses in some detail the various parts of the brain and how we respond when under threat. In the same way, our simulations, thoughts about the past or the future can also be a source of threat. This virtual reality for many people can be the basis or stickier problems with experiences like anxiety and depression.
Now you have a working model of thinking, the handouts below have some exercises which you can help you begin to pay closer attention to your thoughts by becoming more aware of them through self-monitoring.
