Is Rigid Thinking Good or Bad? (and what is the connection between mirror neurons and oxytocin?)
Posted Dec 30 2010 10:21am
I've been thinking about thinking...which I suppose can lead to "thinking about thinking about thinking" and so on. It seems that when I talk to other people about controversial subjects, I sometimes automatically bring up a "response script" that allows me to quickly put out my point of view. At other times, I may be more receptive, more willing to hear the other person's point of view.
Some people are rarely open to changing or moderating their thinking about a subject. For some, it's probably just laziness ("I have my own thoughts on this so just leave me alone...don't make me work my brain") while at other times it may come out of a singular focus (that may be productive) on a particular point of view. The latter "rigidity" may be helpful in that it permits the person to "really dig in" and develop a unique perspective.
I'm wondering if mirror neurons might not play a role in "thinking" or "perspective taking" rigidity. And I'm wondering what the link between mirror neurons and oxytocin might be? Laziness aside (which probably accounts for most rigidity), the failure to take other peoples' perspectives may have a neuronal link which we are just beginning to explore.
I've been thinking about thinking...which I suppose can lead to "thinking about thinking about thinking" and so on. It seems that when I talk to other people about controversial subjects, I sometimes automatically bring up a "response script" that allows me to quickly put out my point of view. At other times, I may be more receptive, more willing to hear the other person's point of view.
Some people are rarely open to changing or moderating their thinking about a subject. For some, it's probably just laziness ("I have my own thoughts on this so just leave me alone...don't make me work my brain") while at other times it may come out of a singular focus (that may be productive) on a particular point of view. The latter "rigidity" may be helpful in that it permits the person to "really dig in" and develop a unique perspective.
I'm wondering if mirror neurons might not play a role in "thinking" or "perspective taking" rigidity. And I'm wondering what the link between mirror neurons and oxytocin might be? Laziness aside (which probably accounts for most rigidity), the failure to take other peoples' perspectives may have a neuronal link which we are just beginning to explore.