Chapter 7
Introduction to the Human Nature Process
We began our discussion of Human Nature
by posing the question: Are we, by nature, kind or cruel? The unsurprising conclusion
was that we are a bit of both. We then discussed guardrails that seek to keep
our more self-centered and malevolent tendencies in check. However, those
societal controls are not infallible, can become onerous, and are inferior to
the efficacy of self-control. The goal of this book is to serve as a survival guide for becoming more self- and other-aware.
What follows is a study of the major
discrete elements that make up our nature as humans. The model above is a
preview of what will be covered. The point to be made here is that, like the kind-cruel
dichotomy, each human nature element has a light and a dark side. For example,
we can have control over our own lives, or we can be controlled by other people
(like the influencers we choose to listen to) or other things (like the addictions
we choose to adopt). We can also be governed by strong, destructive emotions
like jealousy or by pro-social emotions like compassion.
For each of our human nature elements, we can, to varying degrees, choose beneficial or destructive paths.
What are the stakes? The stakes for us as individuals, as well as all our loved
ones – indeed, all of humanity - are life and death. So, let’s explore together
the possibilities for all the elements of our nature and then see, in the last sections,
if we can find a viable path for health and happiness - not at the expense of
others, but in concert with others. Now, to the Human Nature Process.
___________________________________________________________________________________
If you have a background in data
analysis, the above illustration might remind you of a data flow diagram. If
not, please bear with me. At the macro level, the concept is that humans share
some characteristics with computers. (Or perhaps we created
computers in our own image.) The core concept of any computing system is INPUT
-> PROCESS -> OUTPUT. The various elements we will discuss in the coming
chapters fit well into this model. Even though the individual elements of human
nature warrant attention, the overall model unifies the concepts. As confessed in
an earlier chapter about models and their limitations, this illustration is
imperfect. Yet you may find it illuminating. Let’s do a brief walk-through.
First, the input.
Reality
consists of the natural world around us: The Universe, the Solar System, the
Earth, gravity, the atmosphere, the seasons, all plant and animal life, the
other humanoids we bump up against, and the physical and non-physical structures
we have created.
Influencers
(as input) are not just those clever ones who have monetized their social media
output. They include any human, past and present, who has communicated with us
via books, various media, or spoken to us directly. The fact is, most of what
we know or believe originated from influencers. The computer acronym GIGO applies
here. Garbage in, garbage out.
Experiences
are largely a part of the feedback loop we receive from our behavior and our
interactions with others, the rest of the external world, and our own internal
world.
Reality, Influencers, and Experiences are
our primary sources of input. Next comes our capacity to receive and process that input.
As computing organisms, our input ports
are our Senses - five or more, depending on how you want to count them.
Most humans rely heavily on vision for input. But sight-impaired humans prove
we can adapt quite well to a loss of a sense or two (consider Helen Keller). In
fact, all of our senses have severe deficiencies. Never compete in a smelling
contest against a dog.
Next come some filters. Our Cognitive
Biases are shortcuts for processing input that can, at times, save us, and at other times, imperil us. There are at least 180 of these, but we’ll focus on a
shorter list of the most consequential. Two other possible filters of input are
our Mental Health states (I assert that most of us are on at least one spectrum)
and our Habits and Addictions. The
final filter is our capacity for Rationalization. When we should be
learning from our mistakes, we often double down for the sake of our self-concept
(ego).
With input filtered, we can begin our
serious processing. Using our capacity for Memory (another computer
tie-in), we build a cache of Knowledge and Understanding. When that
information is not sufficient to carry on, we rely heavily on our capacity for Belief.
A subset of beliefs that steers our behavior (Output) is our Values.
Finally, at this first tier of processing, we have our Needs, which
subsequently act as internal Motivations.
[Note: By now you may have noticed that
some of these human nature characteristics overlap. But no worries. Seeing
these elements as distinct will make our exploration more manageable.]
Closely related to our needs and
motivations are our Emotions. Then comes our processing powers (Intelligence)
and our capacity to innovate (Creativity).
With the data processing nearly
complete, we arrive at the boundary (if you are still with me on the computer
analogy) between processing and output. I am referring to our capacity for making
Decisions (largely a conscious process) and Reactions (largely an
automatic, unconscious process). With our processing complete, it is time for
action. This is our Behavior.
There are five final elements in the
human nature process that we will explore. Each is consequential. The overarching
factor, of course, is our Body-Mind. Think of this as the computer as a
whole. How do others interface with us? How are we perceived? Yes, it is
through our behavior. But another way to express this is through our Personality
and our Identity. Once again, there is an overlap here – but they must be
explored as distinct elements to fully appreciate them.
We
are near the end when we explore our Social Relationships. We are social animals.
We are as much a member as we are an individual.
Our final consideration is the Consequences
of our behavior and relationships. This is the feedback loop which brings us joy
or sorrow, riches or poverty, pride or shame, and so forth. We can learn from
our Experiences, or we can deny that opportunity at our peril.
And there you have it. That is one
person’s take on the human nature process. I welcome you to take a journey
along the entire path with me, or you may choose to hop around to whatever
destination strikes your fancy. After exploring human nature, we will give
you the opportunity to do a little self-reflection on your own nature. Our wrap-up will be my take on how to tune your system (to belabor the analogy) for optimization
– to benefit yourself and the world as a whole.