The Political Brain - Chapter 5: "Special Interests in Mind"

When Republicans and Democrats listen to a speech, they usually hold diametrically opposing perspectives that depends on the political party of the speaker him/herself. Each party favors their own. Essentially, it boils down to what people want to hear. Drew Westen argues that “the tendency to see what we want to see reflects an accidental byproduct of the evolution of our brains.” Why? Well because what people hear elicits an emotional response and they can base their judgments on these emotional associations. This is why, Westen says, there...

Read More

The Political Brain - Chapter 4: "The Emotions Behind the Curtain"

This chapter opens with one of the most memorable moments during the presidential debate of 1988. Bernard Shaw (moderator) asks Governor Dukakis a simple question: “If Kitty [his wife’ were raped and murdered, would you favor an irrevocable death penalty for the killer?” Dukakis: “No, I don’t Bernard…I don’t see any evidence that it’s a deterrent, and I think there are better and more effective ways to deal with violent crime.” Thus far, we have been talking about the evolution of the dispassionate mind. On the surface, this answer seems very...

Read More

The Political Brain - Chapter 3: "The Evolution of the Passionate Brain"

In this chapter, Author Drew Westen takes us on a journey through time to illustrate notable examples where the passionate brain has had some stronghold. Most notably, he talks about the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s and President Johnson’s address before Congress in 1965, “demanding the passage of legislation that would put an end to the disenfranchisement of African Americans.” Notably, Johnson’s address would signify a major turning point in American history, and in his congressional address, he compared it to significant events in the...

Read More

The Political Brain - Chapter 2: "Rational Minds, Irrational Campaigns"

The second chapter about this book talks about an idea that is at first very counter-intuitive but seems to make more sense as the chapter progresses: the notion of logic and a dispassionate state of mind. Or in this case, the lack thereof. Try thinking about the chapter title, “Rational Minds, Irrational Campaigns.” Public opinion is very important to consider. Walter Lippmann first used the term in 1922 to describe conflicting beliefs- “About what is happening in the economy, the world, and laws/policy-making- held by a population...

Read More

"The Political Brain" - Chapter 1: Winning States of Mind

I have decided to tackle a new book that delves into the world of politics- specifically US Politics - and the role of emotion. Why is it that statistically most Americans agree with Democrats and vote for Republicans?  Author Drew Westen attempts to answer this question. The main idea behind this book is that "the states that determine elections are really the voters' states of mind." The central thesis behind this book is that "the vision of mind that has captured the imagination of philosophers, cognitive scientists, economists, and...

Read More

CYBCYL Chapter 11 – Looking Into Memory and Temper: The Temporal Lobes

The temporal lobes have “largely gone unnoticed in human psychology,” according to Amen. In fact, there has been little to no discussion on them in psychiatric journals However, using Amen’s brain imaging, he has found that the temporal lobes play an important part in our learning, socializations, emotional stability, and memory. Additionally, there is one lobe on each side of the brain, the dominant side (left), and the nondominant side (the right). The dominant side is responsible for:  Understanding and processing language Short-term...

Read More

CYBCYL Chapter 10 – Getting Unstuck: Cingulate System Prescriptions

How can one heal deep cingulate system problems? First, I advise readers to determine if they may have a problem using Amen’s provided checklist in Chapter 9. Then start to follow the prescriptions below. You do not have to have a problem to use these prescriptions. Cingulate System Prescription 1: Notice When You’re Stuck, Distract Yourself, and Come Back to the Problem Later. The first step is to be aware that you have a problem, especially with circular or looping thoughts. This is what can enable you to distract yourself from these (usually...

Read More