The Reductive Model of Mind Explains the Human and Animal Psyche

Abstract

In this chapter the relationship of consciousness to intelligence is analyzed. The effectiveness of the presented model for beings with different degrees of consciousness is verified. We present how our model relates to such mental processes as permanent and short-term remembering, intensive intentional recall, thoughts wandering, planning, and making decisions, focusing of attention, imagination, intuition, sleep, and subconsciousness. The most distinctive feature of humans against other animals is the ability to use symbolic language. The authors present biophysical basics of language creation. They point out that the structure of knowledge enchanted in semantics is consistent with the hierarchy of representations of mental concepts that create it. They discuss the usefulness of a language for both logical analysis of complex problems with a high degree of abstraction, and the ability to express the subtlest feelings. The subconscious raises enormous and widespread interest, why is this? Subconsciousness directs all our activities, but it does not manifest itself and it is hard to explain, partly because we cannot consciously observe how it works. Yet, in their view, it should be easier to understand than full consciousness. It only serves the purpose of proposing various options. In the subconscious mind these options are getting ready to be selected for consideration by a conscious mind. But sometimes they direct our reaction before the conscious mind takes over full control. In this chapter, the authors try to explain what the subconscious is and how it relates to consciousness. The subconscious is a huge memory storage. It contains all the information resulting from our experiences removed from the area of associations reaching consciousness. Subconscious memories can be inhibited by feedback from unpleasant feelings whose transmission to consciousness is blocked. In this way, they become forgotten episodes that subconsciously affect our actions. Realization of life goals can be considered the essence of existence. This is the basis of our worldview and the main content of consciousness. But our psyche has states much more sophisticated and so important that they have become the subject of our dreams, imaginations, and the highest desire. Remember that human beings, as well as highly organized animals, display many behaviors that are not controlled by conscious mind. Evolution has shaped us to become emotional beings. Emotions significantly affect our behavior, determining the subjective values and quality of perceived objects and phenomena. So the authors include emotions as a significant component of their model. They find that the presented model of a motivated emotional mind can explain the formation of various emotions, feelings, and high mental states identified by modern psychology and psychiatry. They postulate that mental states observed in oneself from a first-person perspective are epiphenomenons of physical processes in the brain. It is propounded out that the presented model of the functioning of the conscious mind is indeed a reductive model.