Thinking and feeling

[kajarainbow]

And remember, it's not thought-vs.-emotion. It's about different styles of thought (rational, intuitive, etc.).

A clear demonstration of this is that in the medical cases where people've lost their emotions: they also lost all ability to make even the most simple decisions such as choosing which socks to wear. They simply couldn't make choices. At all. They had to have those choices made for them. Otherwise, they functioned perfectly fine.

Hell, emotion factors even into the most rational decisions, as it's the emotional appeal of rationalism (or any rewards gained though it) that makes people choose it, ironically enough.

Comments

[ocean-state.livejournal.com]

It seems like you're already familiar with the story of "Elliot," the brain-damaged patient who retained normal or above average intelligence while being unable to experience most or all emotion. Rosalind Picard writes about Elliot and the benefit of emotion in making rational decisions in Does HAL Cry Digital Tears? Emotion and Computers, which is a fantastic article that you should really check out, if you haven't read it already! :)

thought-vs.-emotion

[asrinmoore.livejournal.com]

The last girlfriend I broke up with dropped the breakup on me with a quickness. I went immediately into defensive mode. For me, that means that I stop thinking emotionally, My body's surface temprature drops, and my thoughts become focused on fight/flight type actions.(This is sometimes refered to as being in Shock.)

My Ex, seeing my face turn stoney, was self-admittedly afraid, and demanded that I "feel something". She didn't realize that she had rationalized and pre-planed out the breakup, while I'd been left in the dark.

Apparently, somewhere allong the way, she got the idea that I would be dramatic and weepy when confronted with her decision. And, if I new that it was coming, I might of been. Instead, I was attacked with the decision to break up, and responded appropriately.