Selwyn is the name of a college at Cambridge, and for some inexplicable reason, whenever I hear or see "Selwyn College," I can't help but picture a seal in my mind.
Thank for you comment & for the restack! I must admit I had Selwyn Froggit in mind, but I’m sure you’re not as much of as I am. I’ve always thought it made an interesting rhyme with Selwyn College.
The problem for psychologists: reconciling human logic with human emotion. Which rides and which walks? Haidt uses an analogy: Emotion is the elephant and reason is the mahout. That explains why psychologists (even amateur ones like me) have to work so hard to understand themselves, much less to understand others.
There's a lot to be said for that point of view. 'Emotional primacy', psychologists call it. We get an emotional reaction to phenomena within nanoseconds and then spend the rest of out time justifying it, at least much of the time...
"Emotional primacy." Elegant and useful term. When I read Haidt's discussion of the elephant and his handler, I suddenly understood the importance of FMRIs in discovering that phenomenon. David Mamet, the playwright, describes is in cultural terms. The emotional component is the subtle force that makes for "community." When you are talking to someone and they use a phrase, a word, even an accent that you pick up instantly, you know you are "among your people." A powerful force, this emotion. It keeps people together or separates them and until one's emotional definition of "community" changes, it threatens to blow the world up. And now, thanks to you, I have a name to call it. Words are funny: once you have a word or two to describe something or someone, you own them. I think that's why gang leaders often work for group solidarity by assigning their members special and memorable nicknames. (How's that for stream of consciousness?) allbest, elm
Good link! But did I say 'emotional primacy'? Damn, it was early in the morning and I clearly hadn't had my coffee. The term is 'affective primacy'. How embarrassing. Nice to see Mamet's name, by the way, and I like his analysis. Where can I read more?
Jason, my comment about the playwright is a compilation of his thoughts. I think there may be a book or two of his and he has had appearances on blogs in the past five or eight years. I think the best way would be to google him and see what pops up. He is a screenwriter as well, and he has done some cartoons. On a blog. I used to follow whose name I can’t recall. In other words, his ideas are scattered through this cultural conversation. So happy hunting.
Quite entertaining!
Selwyn is the name of a college at Cambridge, and for some inexplicable reason, whenever I hear or see "Selwyn College," I can't help but picture a seal in my mind.
Thank for you comment & for the restack! I must admit I had Selwyn Froggit in mind, but I’m sure you’re not as much of as I am. I’ve always thought it made an interesting rhyme with Selwyn College.
The problem for psychologists: reconciling human logic with human emotion. Which rides and which walks? Haidt uses an analogy: Emotion is the elephant and reason is the mahout. That explains why psychologists (even amateur ones like me) have to work so hard to understand themselves, much less to understand others.
There's a lot to be said for that point of view. 'Emotional primacy', psychologists call it. We get an emotional reaction to phenomena within nanoseconds and then spend the rest of out time justifying it, at least much of the time...
"Emotional primacy." Elegant and useful term. When I read Haidt's discussion of the elephant and his handler, I suddenly understood the importance of FMRIs in discovering that phenomenon. David Mamet, the playwright, describes is in cultural terms. The emotional component is the subtle force that makes for "community." When you are talking to someone and they use a phrase, a word, even an accent that you pick up instantly, you know you are "among your people." A powerful force, this emotion. It keeps people together or separates them and until one's emotional definition of "community" changes, it threatens to blow the world up. And now, thanks to you, I have a name to call it. Words are funny: once you have a word or two to describe something or someone, you own them. I think that's why gang leaders often work for group solidarity by assigning their members special and memorable nicknames. (How's that for stream of consciousness?) allbest, elm
Good link! But did I say 'emotional primacy'? Damn, it was early in the morning and I clearly hadn't had my coffee. The term is 'affective primacy'. How embarrassing. Nice to see Mamet's name, by the way, and I like his analysis. Where can I read more?
As for emotional versus affective, I think probably either term would be appropriate.
Jason, my comment about the playwright is a compilation of his thoughts. I think there may be a book or two of his and he has had appearances on blogs in the past five or eight years. I think the best way would be to google him and see what pops up. He is a screenwriter as well, and he has done some cartoons. On a blog. I used to follow whose name I can’t recall. In other words, his ideas are scattered through this cultural conversation. So happy hunting.
Very entertaining
Glad you liked it!