Mind states: subjectivity

Summary: [You might view the earlier post “Mind states: the age gaps” before this.] We think and act in certain ways at different points on our lifespan because of the social learning, not actual age.




Research now tells us that the basic human processes of cognition, emotion and motivation are influenced not so much by our chronological age, as by our sense of time.


The time index


At different points in our lifespan, we view time differently. Our social learning is that time encourages the young-old differences.

Chronological markers predict children’s physical growth, sensorimotor coordination, cognition, and language abilities. They are assumed to have far yet to go to achieve goals of education, work and so forth. This is the first index of time. Looking forward, we perceive its horizon to be limitless.

Then in adulthood, the person stops growing in height and begins to mature. They’re
assumed to be done with development and learning. The concerns are with achievements in life, looking back over the years. This is the second index of time. Its horizon is limited by the life span seen as still remaining.

Accordingly we tend to evaluate and live life.

The social assumptions

We’ve thus learned over the years, to prioritize our goals and our behaviour according to the ‘norms’ of the society we live in.

We equate youth with dramatic and quick changing outlooks, because in common knowledge, elders are ‘too old’ for it.

Our untested assumptions have become that anybody not conforming to these cultural norms we’re used to isn’t normal.

Manipulating constraints

In the experiment, the researchers tested assumptions manipulating people’s subjectivity – that is, their individual state of mind regarding time.

In the first instance, the older people had felt their age and chose accordingly. But when the age constraint was (experimentally) eliminated, the norms no longer applied, and they thought and chose outside the box.

The young people were expectedly carefree in choice in the first instance. But when the security constraint was (experimentally) applied, and circumstances became uncertain, they were motivated to reason out their selections, as elders tend to do.

Events

The experimental manipulation caused the participants to think differently. The researchers say that when states of mind become identical, so do goals and choices, irrespective of age.

Similarly, September 11th attacks, SARS epidemic, or HIV especially before effective treatments were available, are events that have wiped away the age differences. The affected young viewed their social world in the same way as the old generally do.

Adapt to newness

Fact is diversity and other environmental challenges are now causing us to think as normally we don’t do or want to.

These stereotypes we now need to reassess, as we have to adapt to new reality and new processes. Norms are challenged all around the globe. Perhaps with new learning forced on us, 'wide’ age gaps might also close.

Comments/Opinions Anyone??