Fear and the biology of our human brains
What causes some to be more fearful than others? When two people are exposed to the same stimulus under the same conditions why does one person respond with panic, isolation, and defensiveness? While the other responds with calm, curiosity, and resolve?
Research indicates that more grey matter in the anterior cingulate cortex equals more liberal, less fearful responses. Larger right amygdala equals more conservative responses. The results were replicated in an independent sample of additional participants.
This helps me understand the cognitive misalignments in the United States that have confused me since I was young. In modern times, it has only become worse. Crime rates have dropped. Communities thrived with more opportunity. We are more equal than we have ever been, despite having a long way to go to the goal of true equality. Meanwhile, 90% of conservatively aligned citizens believe crime is on the rise, and the country is heading for disaster.
Conservative leaders conjure threats out of thin air. There is no risk presented by the gay, trans, Islamic, black, brown, Hindu, Asian, Latin American, Palestinian, Jewish, and/or African communities that isn’t already being threatened upon these groups 10 times over by the aristocracy of the West. The West is the aggressor in every instance.
The leaders of the left are no better with their empty virtue signals. They throw their hands up, and clutch their pearls as if they don’t know the call on the field. The left endorses hate, and feigns a modicum of resistance with their inaction. The divides are imaginary, and they breed bigotry.
And what is the goal? Why manufacture all this fear in things that are not real? One can only assume it is to distract. Distract us from the things we should fear. The things that may actually harm us. For the answer is not to be unafraid, but instead to know your enemy and be brave in the face of the fear they present.
My biggest fear is that my projects will go unfinished, and my words will go unsaid. What is your biggest fear?
*This post was inspired by research that was shared by a friend of mine. The research is being conducted at Ohio State University as part of the Wellbeing Project.