Debates are Emotional

With all the mess around these so-called “debates” on the interwebs and around social media, there are two interesting findings in psychology that may shed a light on our mud-slinging behaviors and endless ad hominem attacks.

Debates are emotional activities

Volunteers who were hooked up to an MRI during debates have the parts of the brain light up like Christmas trees. These areas of the brain that were active are related to activities in primarily distinguishing friends from foes. That’s why when we are actively engaged in debates, we tend to feel that those who are close to us, even our own friends and family are “against” us.

Scientists speculate that we have these mechanisms to figure out who are our psychological tribe members. This may have led to increased evolutionary fitness of its members if they can filter anyone who may be potential threats down the line.

We rarely change our minds

In another study, volunteers that are hooked up to an MRI are shown videos of their preferred candidates contradicting themselves. The researchers were surprised to see the area of the brain that processes logic did not light up as expected.

When the participants were asked to explain the inconsistencies, when they explain like “he misspoke.”

The reconciliation triggered a release of dopamine in their brains. This the way of your brain for making you feel good and rewarding you for a certain behavior, much like eating sweets and sex. Basically, it is in your brain’s best interest not to change your mind and it will reward you for not doing so.

Don’t debate

So next time you are dragged into a debate around religion, politics, conspiracies, etc. Remember how our brains are wired and how we are biased.

There is just no such thing as a logical debate, because science.

Sources:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26878311 http://www.uky.edu/AS/PoliSci/Peffley/pdf/Westen%20The%20neural%20basis%20of%20motivated%20reasoning.pdf