In the article you will find information about what the reticular brain is. We will try to understand this concept in detail, and also to find out what influence it has on everyday human activity. The human reptilian brain in neuromarketing has allowed specialists to achieve high success. We will also talk about this, because very often, acting on this particular part of the brain, the marketer manages to achieve a particular result from a potential client. So what is it all about?
Introduction to the topic
Many do not even think about the fact that a person has more than one brain. The fact is that almost everyone thinks that they have one or a maximum of two. In this case, most likely represent the brain, which is located in the cranium. You may have thought of the spinal cord. But people who are associated with anatomy and biology may also mention bone marrow. It turns out 3, but in fact the situation is much more multifaceted.
To begin with, we note that there is a physiology science that carefully examines the human nervous system. It was neurophysiological scientists who concluded that two completely different brains are located in the human skull. The main thing is not to confuse these concepts with the hemispheres.
Reptilian brain
So, the human reptilian brain is the so-called first brain. It is believed that it was he who first appeared in animals many millions of years ago. Very often it is called the "crocodile brain." The fact is that he performs the key functions necessary for the survival of any living creature. It is he who allows individuals to survive in whole groups for further reproduction. In other words, this is the so-called cave brain, which is responsible for animal instincts in man. It is also believed that it is they who control the unconscious part of the brain.
Neocortex
The second brain is considered the neocortex. You can often hear him called the "new brain." As for his age, scientists believe that it was formed in humans only a few thousand years ago. It is thanks to him that we are distinguished from animals that are guided only by the instincts of the first brain.
Thanks to the neocortex, a person can think, reflect, make logical decisions, build relationships, interpret the surrounding reality. It is the “new brain” that allows us to have a mind, our own opinion, a certain level of intelligence, creativity, the ability to communicate with other people, as well as conflict with them and establish all kinds of connections. The neocortex is also involved in making rational decisions and in how actively and fruitfully our imagination works.
Is there really a third brain?
Note that some physiologists say that a person has a limbic brain. So, they argue that the reptilian brain, limbic brain and neocortex fully ensure the conscious functioning of the entire brain system. Researchers also say that the limbic brain is responsible for emotions. It is he who allows us to interpret them correctly, learn to express and communicate our feelings to other people after an emotional reaction.
In other words, this is a kind of system aimed at processing human emotions, which is attuned to the human consciousness and can be controlled to a large extent by it.
So, we figured out that the “new brain” is responsible for consciousness and thinking, the limbic brain controls emotions, the reptilian brain allows us to act at the level of instincts and survive, but the spinal cord controls our body, various processes in the internal organs. However, we will not consider the spinal cord, because it does not apply directly to our topic.
We have one body that is controlled by three different systems. And yet, you should not lose sight of the spinal cord, because it is it that allows us to do our own thing, for example, act on the basis of instincts and analyze our emotions, and not think about the need to constantly breathe, make our heart beat, and blood run through the vessels.
The scientific side of the issue
The anatomy of a human reptilian brain is similar to that of animals. As for the scientific view on this issue, it has been fairly well studied, but not everyone agrees.
So, psychologists separate the nervous activity of a person, his values ​​and beliefs from other parts of his personality. But physiologists, on the contrary, say that our life is controlled not by ourselves, but by our hidden physical needs and desires.
For example, the founder of a new direction in psychology, Sigmund Freud, said that he considers humans to be animals. However, his statement did not cause much support in the scientific world. And it’s unknown, the point here is that a person considers himself to be the crown of creation and does not want to question this statement, even from a scientific point of view, or whether a person is really only partly animal, but he has all the tools to act relatively independently of his nature.
Two beginnings
It should be noted that in every person there is an animal and the rational. The fact is that society as a whole understands this, but interprets it incorrectly, because it proceeds from the provisions of ethics, morality and religion. In fact, the theory that in a person is, roughly speaking, both good and bad, has its roots in physiology.
So, in man there is an animal principle, which is mistakenly called bad. However, it is it that allows us to survive, multiply and compete. They call him bad because, following him, a person primarily acts on the basis of his interests. You must understand that this is not objective, because if a person did not think about himself in the first place, then mankind, in principle, would not survive.
A reasonable beginning is considered good, but this is only half true. It is the mind that creates the most terrible weapon, it is smart people who make wars and agree on terrible events over which they have power. So to decide what is good in a person and what is bad is rather stupid.
Another question is that a person has real control over the animal and the rational in itself. And it’s foolish to believe that it depends on external circumstances or his fate. Everything in himself, and the reins of government are also in his hands.
Human brain functions
We have already figured out what it is, now we will talk in detail about what its functions are. If you try to describe the reticular brain in one word, then it is enough to say the word "instinct". But what is he like?
Instinct is a person’s data that he has from birth. They consist of the characteristics of his psyche, determining the future behavior in various situations, whether it be a deadly battle, the ability to choose a partner for reproduction or the ability to withstand what is contrary to the views.
A person has a lot of instincts, and each of them controls a specific area of ​​activity. But in total there are 3 basic instincts, thanks to which he survives and can continue his activities, continue the human race.
So, the reptilian brain is responsible for the survival instinct, the most important instinct. It works in humans in various dangerous situations, when it is necessary to adapt, win, or simply survive in any way. It can manifest itself in different ways. As they say, there are two reactions - either fight or run. This is actually so. In a stressful situation, a person either enters into an open confrontation, that is, a fight, or tries to avoid danger, to pretend to be weak.
But there is a third version of behavior that stands above the instinct of the human reptilian brain. This model is that a person begins to think how to solve this or that situation. In other words, he puts in the first place not his fear and instinct, but the desire to achieve the maximum resolution of the situation. That is, he can show aggression, show that he is ready to enter into a fight or fight, but, nevertheless, he will do it on purpose - in order to scare off the enemy, and not in order to completely defeat or destroy him. He can also compromise, that is, show that he is ready for some concessions in order to subsequently achieve mutually beneficial conditions.
So, the survival instinct, or rather the level at which it is manifested in us, also largely determines social status. The higher it is in a person, the safer and more comfortable he lives. So, leaders of various tribes, heads of state, people who hold power in their hands, and so on, are usually well-off, can protect themselves, are not exposed to dangerous situations, and eat well. That is, they are guaranteed to survive, which ensures the survival instinct.
But at the same time, there is another side to the coin, which lies in the fact that it is from such people that they most often want to get rid of. They want to overthrow, dishonor, kill, etc. That is why they always have to be on their guard, because the strike can be delivered at any second and in the most unexpected way.
Reproduction and herdness
The second instinct of the human reptilian brain is the instinct of procreation. It is thanks to him that we like certain people, we are trying to create a family in such a way that everyone in it is happy, there is peace and tranquility. Therefore, we strive to enter into a sexual relationship, which is pleasant to a person and is his immediate need. Our bodies are fully adapted to have a large number of children throughout life.
The third instinct we are going to talk about is herd instinct. It is he who forces us to accept the opinion of the majority when we are not ready or weak in order to express our own opinion. In the past, this instinct was very useful to a person, because he allowed to organize a community in which each member was ready to intercede for another and help him. But later, when there were enough people, disunity came, and people began to conflict among themselves with different groups. That is, the herd instinct is as if divided. Conflicts began on a number of issues, ranging from religious, ethical, state and ending with the most domestic.
However, in the modern world, many people are still guided by the rule that help is always necessary only for one's own, completely avoiding strange and incomprehensible people. These people are against everything unusual and against those people whom they do not understand or who do not correspond to their standards. Transferring the human reptilian brain to such a reality shows us that herd instinct does not always work in our hands of modern life. Rather, it interferes with our further development and improvement as a rational species on the planet.
There is such a thing as xenophobia. This is a fear of everything else. Modern people, instead of aiming at unity and world peace, are divided into groups and despise each other. They openly enter into confrontation, start various squabbles and, in fact, they themselves do not know why they are doing this.
Features
The fact is that it is quite difficult to study the psychology of the human reptilian brain due to the fact that each person works in his own way. This is the main feature of the reticular brain. Each instinct is controlled in completely different ways. Someone is more susceptible to them, and, in fact, his whole life can be determined on the basis of this. Someone is much less prone to instinctive influences, so he is more open to the world and ready to perceive incoming information.
But the initial position depends not only on what psychological aspects are inherent in us by nature. Much depends on the environment in which the person grows up. Even if very strong instincts are embedded in him, but he grows up in the right peaceful atmosphere, then such a person, although he will not lose his prevailing animal origin, can manage it from childhood. Thus, this beginning will not cause inconvenience, but rather will help in various life situations.
Under the animal principle, we understand the prevalence of strong instincts, and not that a person has a lot of something bad or shameful.
But if a person grows up or is in difficult conditions for a long time - he is constantly in danger, he grows up in an unfriendly atmosphere, constantly hungry or requires some other resources, then his instincts are very aggravated, even if by nature they were laid rather weakly. In each life situation, they will greatly influence the decision-making and behavior of such a person if he does not learn how to cope with them. As we understand it, the most “qualitatively” instincts are developed among the inhabitants of Asia and Africa. They are least developed among residents of Europe and America. It is because of this that a large number of conflicts are taking place in the world.
How to control the reptilian brain
The fact is that in the modern world this feature of human psychology is actively used. For example, in marketing. The psychology of the human reptilian brain, which is currently sufficiently studied, allows one to make advertising offers in such a way that a person makes decisions unconsciously, based on his instincts. That is, it turns out that advertising is aimed at what the reptilian brain saw and realized at first.
So, we are shown bright pictures, which very often cause a strong response. How to use the human reptilian brain in sales, experienced specialists have long understood. To do this, you need to show a beautiful half-naked woman or the advantage that a person will receive after purchase over his competitor, who in advertising acts as a neighbor, comrade, colleague.
The principles of contrast are also very well applied when the viewer is shown a successful successful person, for example, in certain sneakers, and a loser in bad shoes. The picture is aimed at making the loser have a bad figure, be rejected by the girls, and have a repulsive appearance. While a person wearing the right shoes has all the advantages of the most successful leader.
So, now you know how in advertising and not only affect a person. The reptilian brain makes us rather vulnerable, but still a lot depends on ourselves. If a person wants to develop his consciousness, he will be able to clearly separate events in which he makes a decision and in which they are trying to manipulate.
The reptilian brain can create many problems for us. How they influence a person through him - they know and use it all over the world. I must say that modern man has already become quite sophisticated in these matters and, to put it bluntly, “is not being conducted” on many irritants. But this does not stop marketers who, in the pursuit of greater profit, are ready to create increasingly annoying incentives for a person.