Idea: use knowledge of how physiology influences the mind
Mental shutdown:
Stress → Mental shutdown (trouble thinking, making decisions, …)
This leads to decisions that feel correct at the moment but are obviously flawed in hindsight
Metacognitive failure: Part of what we lose is also our ability to notice the loss in abilities → Need objective “sobriety test”
The automatic nervous system
Sympathetic nervous system (SNS): accelerator; fight/flight/freeze, excitement
Parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS): brakes; chill, open vulnerability, reflective…
Relative arousal of these systems matters
The qualities come bundled: not often do you have an “open, relaxed body posture” while also being extremely excited
The ancestral need for survival guides our SNS-dominated responses, and they are not reflective
Changing the state
Algorithm idea:
Check where you are on the SNS-PSNS spectrum
Change your position at that spectrum “at will”
Most of the skill lies in shifting toward PSNS, which is also more useful for our rationality
Algorithm for moving toward PSNS:
Notice that you are SNS-dominated (TAP: physical sign, perceived hostility, someone saying “calm down”)
Open your Body posture
Take low, slow, deep breaths: belly-dominated, exhale longer than inhale
Get aware of the sensations in your feet
Then expand that awareness to the whole body
Take another low, slow, deep breath. Enjoy
Metacognitive blindspots
The againstness-resolving technique is one mechanism to resolve metacognitive blindspots (where our metacognition is not able to reflect on our cognition)
General advice:
if everyone sounds wrong/stupid/malicious etc., take seriously the idea that it’s actually you.
Get external objective evidence on your blindspot (e.g., sobriety test for driving, noticing SNS-state)
Assess your blindspots with the same tools you assess other’s blindspots
Summary
Idea: use knowledge of how physiology influences the mind
Mental shutdown:
Stress → Mental shutdown (trouble thinking, making decisions, …)
This leads to decisions that feel correct at the moment but are obviously flawed in hindsight
Metacognitive failure: Part of what we lose is also our ability to notice the loss in abilities → Need objective “sobriety test”
The automatic nervous system
Sympathetic nervous system (SNS): accelerator; fight/flight/freeze, excitement
Parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS): brakes; chill, open vulnerability, reflective…
Relative arousal of these systems matters
The qualities come bundled: not often do you have an “open, relaxed body posture” while also being extremely excited
The ancestral need for survival guides our SNS-dominated responses, and they are not reflective
Changing the state
Algorithm idea:
Check where you are on the SNS-PSNS spectrum
Change your position at that spectrum “at will”
Most of the skill lies in shifting toward PSNS, which is also more useful for our rationality
Algorithm for moving toward PSNS:
Notice that you are SNS-dominated (TAP: physical sign, perceived hostility, someone saying “calm down”)
Open your Body posture
Take low, slow, deep breaths: belly-dominated, exhale longer than inhale
Get aware of the sensations in your feet
Then expand that awareness to the whole body
Take another low, slow, deep breath. Enjoy
Metacognitive blindspots
The againstness-resolving technique is one mechanism to resolve metacognitive blindspots (where our metacognition is not able to reflect on our cognition)
General advice:
if everyone sounds wrong/stupid/malicious etc., take seriously the idea that it’s actually you.
Get external objective evidence on your blindspot (e.g., sobriety test for driving, noticing SNS-state)
Assess your blindspots with the same tools you assess other’s blindspots