Theories of Mind

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The schematic depictions to the right represent modified versions to Dr. John G. Kappas' Theory of Mind.

Four areas must be considered:

  1. The Primitive mind -  Philogenetically, assuming that man and the human mind actually evolved, in our early stages of development, there was a primitive mind. When man was confronted with a threat, he responded with equaly primitive reactions of confronting the threat (fight) or running away from it (flight). These primitive reactions still surface during mental overload.
  2. The Modern Mind - Eventually, a "modern area" of the mind developed and with it, the realization of consciousness of self and of the environment. Man began to separate "self" from "other" and began associating external and internal stimuli as good or bad and, along the line, associating good or bad with other independent experiences. Such associations became important parts of the conscious mind. Eventually, society and the family began modifying perceptions and laying down the foundations of the critical mind.
  3. The Critical Mind - Ontogenetically, as the child develops, he undergoes a similar process of development of "mind filters" that modify perception and temper behavior accorning to a set of standards that the growing child lerns from family, peers, teachers and society in general. The critical mind is fully formed by age eight.
  4. The Subconscios Mind - Is the largest portion of the mind, estimated to be at least 88-90% of the whole. This is the place where memories are stored, sometimes linked to positive (+) or negative (-) associations. This is the area that can be reached by meditation and hypnosis.

The conscious mind has a limited capacity for processing and storing of information, but nothing is lost, because during sleep the content is coded and stored by the vast subconscious mind.

The Joseph LeDoux Model

As can be seen from the diagram below, and readily observed in new-born babies, the neo-cortex is largely unprogrammed, still forming, and growing for some time after birth. The amygdala comes with a genetically implanted, instinctual self, ready and primed to develop. This primitive self we share with our closest genetic ‘cousins’, the primates, has been well documented in chimpanzees and apes. This primitive self is part of our survival instincts.

According to LeDoux (see his diagram, below), the survival instinct is first and foremost for the survival of the species, hence the willingness of the adult to sacrifice his or her own life for the offspring. A close second comes self-survival, which is translated into psychic and psychological fear and aggression in humans.