Whether our decision-making is rational or emotional, very often, the emotional or intuitive response is the best response.

There are two mental processes that represent our thinking: the rational and the emotional mind. The rational thinking system is driven by detached observation, logic, assessment, and reasoning while the emotional thinking system is driven by an immediate feeling response, such as compassion. But which has the greatest influence on us?

Although we might think we're being influenced by only one type of thinking at any given time, studies show we are equally controlled by both. However, if problem-solving is too complex or information is incomplete, the rational mind becomes overworked and overwhelmed making it difficult to make decisions or solve problems. So when in doubt, our emotional brain takes charge and we make decisions based on emotional responses.

The emotional system enables us to respond quickly, even if it means trouble, while the rational system allows us to use logic and reason. The National Institutes of Health explains how complex our emotional system can be. Our emotional responses are immediate, but the rational thinking system causes us to step back and analyze the situation. When our two ways of responding are in balance, our emotional responses become more regulated and analytical.


A Toastmasters online resource provides the following explanation of how emotional and rational thinking processes work:

We are persuaded by reason, but we are moved by emotion. Several studies conclude that up to 90 percent of the decisions we make are based on emotion....

Emotional reactions and logical thinking go hand in hand when it comes to problem-solving, but when the problem requires too much rational thought, emotions win 90 percent of the time. This means, if there are too many factors involved or if the situation is too complicated, an emotional response will prevail over logical thinking. 

We need both types of thinking, rational and emotional, but we need to be aware of how the brain works when we are overwhelmed. If we trust the workings of our brain, very often, the emotional or intuitive response is the best response. 
           
(c) updated:  mhjohnson (2017)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1201429/.
http://www.westsidetoastmasters.com. From "The Influence of Emotional Subject Matter on Logical Reading," Journal of General Psychology 34 (1946): 127-151.

Has Donald Trump read Machiavelli?

When I listen to the views of politicians and business tycoons posturing as politicians, I wonder what will happen to the state of education in America, not just for immigrants but for all of us. Education is more than a degree; it's a life-changing event when it's done right. Yet, no one wants to help fund it. Maybe education is too threatening? Maybe it gives too much power to citizens who just might rise up and demand quality education for everyone. The sense of powerlessness in American society is being expressed in a very interesting way: Donald Trump.

I loved being a freshman in college because it was not only about getting a degree; it was also about getting familiar with great minds in world history, literature, and science, knowing they were dead but were once young like us. I had the good fortune of being in southern California, known for having some of the best schools in the nation at the time. Even at a community college outside of L.A.,  I loved attending classes, listening to diverse opinions, and having an opportunity to express my own views in 20-page essays. I was fascinated by poetry, fiction, and philosophy. Unfortunately, the academic year was plagued by class cancellations due to some political protest, boycott, or supporters of some movement, but if I could revisit that year, I'd spend less time at the beach, less time riding in cars, less time at Griffith Park Zoo. I would  never miss a class.

I was especially fascinated by world literature. After reading, The Prince, I  wondered whether Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) was hero or villain, but back then it didn't matter. What mattered was the freedom of expression.Today, freedom of expression is a Constitutional right which we rarely exercise, and when it comes to great leaders, it appears impolite and arrogant. But then there is Donald Trump, who clearly hopes to be considered a great leader. Of course he must have read Machiavelli's, The Prince. What successful business leader has not? According to Machiavelli, politics has a morality of its own, one based on strategic maneuvers, one in which the end justifies the means.

When it comes to political strategies, one takeaway from this book, published five centuries ago, has relevance today:

• A prince will also be well thought of when he is a true friend, or an honest enemy; that is, when, without any hedging, he takes a stand for one side against the other. It is always better to do this than to stand on one's neutrality; because if two of your powerful neighbors come to blows, they are either such people that you have to fear the winner or they are not.  In either case, it will be better for you to assert yourself and wage open war; because in the first case, when you do not take sides, you are bound to be the prey of the winner, to the pleasure and satisfaction of the loser (61-62).

Donald Trump has done it again, demanded attention in the media for bold statements that border on the confrontational and seem to portray blind ignorance. We are appalled by what appears to be blatant disrespect for cultural diversity. Yet, he is gaining momentum in the political arena. Could it be Machiavelli is right after all these years and Donald Trump is bold enough to follow his lead? 

Reference:
Machiavelli, Niccolo. The Prince, 2nd edition (1992, 1977). New York: WW. Norton & Company, Inc.
(c) mhjohnson (2015)

When you believe negative things about yourself, you lose self-confidence and want to alienate yourself from others. That's exactly what a bully wants.

Some of the nicest people are bullies--at least that's what they want people to believe, but behind the scenes, they terrorize.  Everyone seems to know them, respect them, and seek to be around them, but as my mother liked to say, "All that glitters is not gold."  Bullies have problems with their emotional mastery.  They are unable to manage their emotions, so they behave inappropriately toward others.

Ask yourself, is it appropriate to pick on those who seem less powerful than you?  Is it right to diminish someone's self-esteem and cause them to lose confidence in themselves?  What ordinary, normal person would lose themselves in such negative behavior as bullying, which is based on hurting rather than helping someone.

 

The National Association of Secondary School Principals provides a list of resources along with definitions for the word, "bullying" (listed below). But it does not list this:  If you feel diminished, undermined, afraid, ashamed, belittled, or harassed by someone, that individual is a bully, no matter how invisible their actions happen to be, no matter how subtle their actions, and no matter what teachers, preachers, friends and neighbors say.

 

There is help when you need to stop a bully. You have support from various sources, and you are not alone. If you feel bullied by someone, start keeping track of incidents and start building a network of people to support and stand by you when you feel strong enough to report the bully.

 

Bullies hope to isolate you from others, and the best way to do this is to destroy your self-esteem so you don't feel worthy of friends or think you deserve the abuse.  Bullies are masters at getting others to follow them and join in the bullying tactics against you.  The supporters might not realize they are participants, but a bully requires teamwork. Through threats, intimidation, or rewards a bully gets others to act on their behalf or help in ostracizing you.

 

Be aware of people who pretend to be part of your support group but are working on behalf of a bully to find your weaknesses and share this information with the bully.The best way to protect yourself against a bully is to have a strong sense of who you are.  If you lack confidence in who you are, you can build it. Join a group, volunteer, and discover who you are.  Accept your strengths as well as your weaknesses, and don't take yourself too seriously. 

 

When you believe negative things about yourself, you lose self-confidence and want to alienate yourself from others. That's exactly what a bully wants, so keep records of what happens and get help. Don't make bullies happier than they deserve to be.

(c)2015 M.D. Johnson

 

Definitions of Bullying 

From: www.nassp.org Knowledge Center.

 

Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org)
"Bullying is a form of abuse. It comprises repeated acts over time that involves a real or perceived imbalance of power with the more powerful individual or group abusing those who are less powerful. The power imbalance may be social power and/or physical power..." More information

 

 

Princeton University WordNet (http://wordnet.princeton.edu)
"The act of intimidating a weaker person to make them do something blustery: noisily domineering; tending to browbeat others." More information

 

 

National School Safety Center (www.schoolsafety.us)
"Bullying is a form of violence that hurts others. School bullying happens at school or during school-sponsored activities when a student or group of students intentionally and repeatedly uses their power to hurt other individuals or groups. Bullies’ power can come from their physical strength, age, financial status, popularity, social status, technology skills, or by association (the people they know, who they hang out with, who their family is)." More information and fact sheets

 

 

Bully OnLine (www.bullyonline.org)
This website gives information on "types of bullying, bullying tactics, how targets are selected, the difference between bullying and harassment and an answer to the question 'Why me?'" More information

 

 

Oklahoma Parents Center (www.oklahomaparentscenter.org)
"Bullying includes behaviors and actions that are verbal, physical and/or anti-social, such as exclusion, gossip and non-verbal body language. It can occur at school or in transit between school and home."

 

 

Queensland (Australia) Government (www.business.qld.gov.au)
"Workplace bullying is the 'repeated less favorable treatment of a person by another or others, which may be considered unreasonable and inappropriate workplace practice'. Workplace bullying is behavior that can intimidate, offend, degrade or humiliate an employee."

 

 

CoachesColleague.com (www.coachescolleague.com)
"Deliberate action or behaviour directed towards another person which may take many forms and can often occur over a long period of time." More information

 

 

Virginia Legislature
Proposed language from Delegate Adam P. Ebbin (D-Alexandria) in the Virginia Legislature, January 2011: “Recklessly or intentionally endangering the health or safety of a student by exposing the student repeatedly, and over time, to physical aggression or intimidation, whether through direct physical contact or through the use of information or communication technology, resulting in bodily injury or other harm to person or property.”