As yo sense of yoself revolves around our sense of Self, this article may prove interesting.
Some core concepts from the article:
-The idea that certain behaviors/processes can be "reduced" to specific areas in the brain (vmPFC).
-Mental time travel
-Self-reference effect
-Confabulations
-The self as not static or unchanging, but fluid.
-Memory as a form of imagination!
-Most importantly for social psychology, "future thought has played a significant role in human evolution. This ability may have contributed to the development of language, and it has a key role in human interactions, where the vmPFC is central to evaluating and taking advantage of social context."
What are your thoughts after reading this article?
For me, thinking that, if we follow (loosely) the logic of the article, society is tied to interactions, which are tied to language, which is tied to future thought, which is tied to the vmPFC...renders our human situation as tenuous, almost held hostage to the development of a distinct brain area. If our human history had been just every so slightly altered, our vmPFC could have developed differently and "we" (all humans) would be very different.
I am interested to hear your thoughts.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-our-brain-preserves-our-sense-of-self/
