I leave you a video of a conference by Jonah Lehrer, a journalist specializing in psychology and neuroscience, who participated in the event The City of Ideas, a prominent conference series held in Puebla, Mexico. This event brings together some of the world's brightest minds to discuss creativity, science, philosophy, and many other topics of interest.
The importance of emotions in our decisions
In his talk, Jonah Lehrer explores the impact of emotions on decision making and raises a discussion about the relationship between reason and emotion in our daily lives. Based on his research and his experience as a writer, Lehrer argues that emotions are not mere interferences in rational thought, but play a role in the development of our lives. fundamental role in the way we process information and deal with the world. In addition, understanding the mechanisms for managing emotions can be key to making better decisions.
The two main currents in psychology
There are two predominant approaches within psychology that attempt to explain how people can improve their lives:
- The power of reason: This perspective holds that the logical thinking and rational thinking is the key to improving our lives. It is based on cognitive theories that emphasize the importance of objectively analyzing our experiences and modifying our behavior through reflection.
- The management of emotions: Since the publication of «Emotional intelligence» by Daniel Goleman in 1995, psychology began to highlight the importance of emotions in daily life. It is considered that adequate emotional regulation can be more determinant than pure reasoning when making decisions and improving well-being. To this can be added the understanding of the components of emotions for better management.
Reason vs. emotion: a necessary balance
In practice, both reason and emotion must coexist in a balanced way. Relying exclusively on reason and emotion is not a good way to achieve the desired result. emotion can lead to impulsive decisions, while relying solely on reason can cause people miss out on valuable opportunities. Each individual must find an appropriate balance according to his or her personality and context. This balance is similar to that sought when apply mindfulness in daily life.
The role of emotions in decision making
Recent research in neuroscience has shown that emotions influence complex decisions more than previously believed. Daniel Kahneman, in his book Think fast, think slow, explains how the human brain uses two systems of thinking:
- Quick thinking: It is based on intuitions and automatic responses guided by emotions.
- Slow thinking: It requires more deliberate and analytical processing, based on reason.
Studies show that in situations of high stress or uncertainty, emotions can provide a evolutionary advantage by helping us make quick and effective decisions. It is also important to recognize how emotions can affect Our analytical capacity.
A British soldier's story: a case of emotional intuition
In his lecture, Jonah Lehrer recounts the experience of a British officer in the middle of a mission, who, thanks to an intuition based on emotions, managed to detect an imminent threat and save the lives of his team. This case illustrates how emotions can act as a survival mechanism highly effective. This type of intuition is a clear example of how the proper management of emotions can lead to critical decisions.
How to train emotional intelligence
To improve decision making based on emotional intelligence, it is advisable to:
- Practicing self-awareness: Identify and understand our emotions.
- Learning to regulate emotions: Avoid impulsive reactions and learn to channel feelings in a positive way.
- Improving empathy: Understanding the feelings of others helps us in making group decisions.
- take the necessary time: Do not be carried away by impulsiveness and reflect before deciding.
This talk by Jonah Lehrer invites us to reflect on the role that emotions play in our daily lives and how they can be harnessed to improve our decision-making. Instead of seeing emotions and reason as opposing forces, it is important to understand how both can be combined to achieve a more balanced and conscious life.
Below you can watch Jonah Lehrer's full talk:
