Why do emotions influence us more than reason?

Human beings are an amalgam of perceptions and all the emotions, feelings and thoughts we have. All these elements make up a unity and that unity results in a way of being and acting in the world.

Our mind is extraordinarily powerful and skilled at directing our behavior, both to do good and to do evil. Thanks to it we carry out all the rational thought processes, but it also makes extraordinarily powerful forces felt: emotions.

So, We can say that we are reason and emotion. Forces that sometimes point towards the same place, but other times they confront each other and force us to make a decision. We have the choice to follow our “heart” or listen to the list of pros and cons.

The majority of studies that have studied this decision process assure that, in general, emotions win. This is basically because reason occupies a higher level on the scale of elaboration of subjective experiences. So, It takes more experience, more time and a greater degree of skill to construct reasons than to give rise to emotions.

Emotions: as ethereal as air and as dangerous as sulfur

“Emotion” etymologically means: “movement or impulse”; “that which moves me towards.” Emotions are subjective experiences that induce action. They are basically born from perceptions of the world, rather than from reasoning as such. Simply, something that is perceived as beneficial triggers pleasant emotions. Same as the opposite.

Fear, for example, is a very powerful emotion, according to specialized psychologist Rob Yeung. Hence, it is frequently used by the media and is an effective strategy in politics. Likewise, shame and pride are emotions that can be used for individual and collective manipulation purposes.

Exploring the origin of emotions…

In theory, emotions are not decisive, but they can be very decisive. They are intrinsic to human beings and are immersed in their judgments and deliberations in life. It is not about denying them, but about identifying them and learning to channel them for our own good.

There are many everyday examples that show us how emotions dominate much of human behavior. For example, when someone thinks he should be more patient, but when he has to wait in line, or tolerate a delay, he becomes desperate and forgets the purpose of it.

We don’t know exactly why we feel intense anger when we are served cold coffee, if our mind tells us that it really isn’t something too important. We also tend to ignore why we are so afraid of speaking in public, for example, if it is ultimately a situation that can be controlled.

The truth is that The power of emotions is precisely given by the indefinite nature of their origin and development. They are part of an area of ​​ourselves that is diffuse and sometimes incomprehensible. However, deep down, in each emotion what takes shape are our instincts… of conservation, preservation of the species, defense, attack, etc.

Is there a divorce between reason and emotion?

The truth is that There is no sharp border that separates emotion from reason. In reality, these are dimensions of the human being that are always acting together. Emotions give rise to certain thoughts and thoughts, in turn, give rise to emotions.

Every emotion is thought to some extent. When that measurement is low, it gives rise to confused and erratic emotions. When the measure of reasoning is high, it allows us to have a deeper and more balanced experience of reality.

Those who call themselves “highly rational” do not escape this logic. If you look closely, this refusal to allow emotions to creep into your life is probably due to a deep fear of “losing control” that you supposedly have.

Likewise, imagining purely emotional actions, without an iota of reason, is more or less absurd. The human being cannot give up the cerebral cortex, unless he suffers an injury or inhibits brain functions using some chemical.

Achieve balance between reason and heart

Emotions are not spirited and runaway horses that we must “put the reins” on. They constitute us as human beings and are part of a valuable subjective baggage that contributes to giving our own meaning to the world. They do not have to be “eradicated”, nor do they have to be denied or devalued.

Quite the opposite: to be able to feel is to be capable of being human. Only on the basis of emotions are love, sacrifice, great dreams and great feats built. However, This does not mean that we can or should leave those emotions “raw” and settle for experiencing them without reflecting on them.

A point of balance is reached when we are able to be attentive to what we feel, not with the aim of defending ourselves from it, but with the purpose of channeling those same emotions so that they are beneficial. That means that If I feel fear, the best option is to recognize it, explore it and, why not, turn it into a force in my favor. If I’m afraid of public speaking, maybe I can design some great technological aids to help me cope.

Emotions influence us more than reason because they are in a more primitive and, therefore, deeper area of ​​our brain. They are at the base of everything we are. Reason is like a chisel with which we can polish those emotions to pacify them and allow them to help us lead a better life.

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