Dave Snowden writes about A General Theory of Love, highlighting this passage:
Because mammals need relatedness for their neurophysiology to coalesce correctly, most of what makes a socially functional human comes from connection - the shaping physiologic force of love. Children who get minimal care can grow up to menace a negligent society. Because the primate brain's intricate, interlocking neural barriers to violence do not self-assemble, a limbically damaged human is deadly.
I agree with Dave's approval of how the authors "avoid the crude dichotomy of the emotional and the rational that pervades too much management speak". In branding and marketing, this often manifests as a claimed ability to operate the target market's "emotional triggers" and bypass rationality - usually in a manner that suggests little real empathy with those being (allegedly) influenced.
(Here are some previous posts here that refer to this book.)
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Comments (3)
Loved this idea, too.
The book was one of the first to really focus on the
social context for the new neuroscience.
We become who are primarily through our interaction with others.
Well spotted, sirrah
March 26, 2007 20:29 Permalink for comment
These customers, they're terribly, terribly emotional you know. And not very bright. Like the womenfolk. Or the natives bless 'em. Where would they be without us?
*Ahem*
It's the split that's dangerous. Either people are rational and our messages try to lay out facts. Or they are irrational so our messages cater to their emotions. But what happens if they are both rational & irrational, clever & stupid, caring & heartless all at the same time? The it gets a bit confusing & we may have to talk with them rather than at them.
Which is a little bit scary. Esp. if we haven't been using our limbic systems recently.
March 26, 2007 23:30 Permalink for comment
Hi Johnnie
This book is a gem - here is my post on it
http://smartpei.typepad.com/robert_patersons_weblog/2003/11/the_science_of_.html
Rob
March 27, 2007 17:14 Permalink for comment