THE BASIS OF BEHAVIOR

 

To better understand our behavior, we must first begin where it all started. In the preliminary stages of conception, there is the oldest part of the brain called the amygdala. Within this amygdala is one cognitive component called the Mix Match Negative or MMN. The MMN informs the fetus body when it is time to form the parts of the body, but it also has another function which is to begin to record everything that occurs from that moment on including our reactions to them. This dynamic gets more become increasingly important as we age, develop, and grow. In the initial stages of development, it becomes our “go-to” safe harbor when anything happens that is close to or identical to what may have already happened.

The study of cognitive behavioral therapy teaches us that thoughts influence feelings and feelings influence behavior but what does not explain is where the origin of those thoughts. Now it is unquestioned that for any thought to occur, it must be sparked by some type of action because everything originates from somewhere. This is where I say that the missing piece to better understanding human behavior is experience. Remember the initials E.T.F.B. The E stands for experience, the T stands for thoughts, the F stands for feelings, and the B stands for behavior. It should also be mentioned that once an experience has happened, the results and reactions are often recorded and pass to our subconscious.

The first time something happens, we react and once that event has passed, those recordings are processed and stored in our subconscious for referral back to if something similar or exact happens. These experiences can be real or witnessed and shall imprint on our memory to last for the rest of our lives. We will never forget them, and we cannot ever erase them, the closest we can come is to find the coping skills to manage them and prevent them from becoming so inflexible that they now control our behavior instead of us.

Consider you are playing in your front yard when a noticeably big dog charges, this is traumatic for you and even though you are not hurt or injured, it makes you fear dogs, especially big dogs. As you grow and mature, if you have not been able to address this when it comes to big dogs your experience (whether real or witnessed) creates a though of danger. This thought of danger creates a feeling of fear (paralyzing or not), so this leads you to behave in a way that never takes a dog for a pet or feels quite uncomfortable around them.

This application is applicable to every situation that we have witnessed or experienced combined with the reaction we first exercised and stays as our “go-to” reactions and only stay dominant when we do not make any efforts to change or modify it.

These original experiences are not of our creation and so we must resign ourselves to never being able to take full responsibility for the behavior it sparks until we have sought the education to learn what steps are necessary to make those changes or modifications. The choice of whether we wish to make these changes are the only choices and decisions we need to make. If we are advised even one time that these behaviors need to change, and we feel that this advice is correct, but we still choose not to make that journey then the ultimate result of the refusal is ours alone to bear.

 

Dr. Ronnie Manns began his journey in the fields of psychology/sociology in 1978 and honed these skills while serving ten plus (10+) years in the United States Marines from 1980 until 1991. He chose to rekindle this love of psychology by refamiliarizing himself with this subject in his pursuit for his Associate Degree in Business Management in 1992. Not satisfied, Dr. Manns continued his professional development by finishing with a Diploma with Distinction in Neuropsychology from the Centre of Excellence in the United Kingdom and an Advanced Diploma in Neuropsychology from Allison University in Australia. Dr. Manns was also able to secure a Fellowship with the American Institute of HealthCare Professionals and become a Registered Fellow with the Complimentary Medical Association. He can be reached at atofcounseling@gmail.com.

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