We are Genetically Structured Creatures

In 1953 when James Watson (left) and Francis Crick presented their model of a DNA molecule (deoxyribonucleic acid model). They had pieced together pieces of a scientific puzzle that scientists had been working on for many years. With the discovery of this model a new way of understanding life began -- humans could understand the basic building blocks of life for the first time in history. Understanding the biology of human behaviors begins with an awareness of the role DNA plays in every person’s life. In discussions that involve conflicts, it is important to identify relevant genetic factors – and make clear distinctions between the roles genes and memes play. Read the complete article at -- https://lives1st.blogspot.com/2018/10/we-are-genetically-structured-creatures.html

A New Model for Discussing Humans and Human Behaviors

The TOV Center created a science-based model for understanding humans and discussing the ways human behave toward each other:

Humans are genetically structured, realities guided,

social creatures that are dependent on other humans for survival.

Human behavior has been a subject of great interest throughout recorded history. Ancient myths, legends, wisdom literature and sacred texts provide insights into the ways humans interacted with other humans and gods. But, it wasn’t until the late 20^th century that science discovered DNA and began to understand how the human brain functions. Becoming aware of the roles genes, memes and social structures play transformed the way we understand what human are and how they behave. Dr. Robert M. Sapolsky sums up what he has discovered through a lifetime of research in the comments below:

1. You can’t begin to understand things like aggression, competition, cooperation, and empathy without biology.

2. You’re just as much up the creek if you rely only on biology.

3. It actually makes no sense to distinguish between aspects of a behavior that are “biological” and those that would be described as, say, “psychological” or “cultural.” They are all utterly intertwined.¹

Understanding the biology of human behaviors is obviously important, but unfortunately it is hellishly complicated. However, simply becoming aware of certain facts provides us with distinct advantages, beginning with how most people deal complex, multifaceted phenomena. We break down those separate facets into categories and create “buckets of explanations.”²  Putting facts into nice cleanly demarcated buckets of explanation has its advantages — for example it can help you remember facts better.

But this process can wreak havoc on your ability to think about those facts. The boundaries between different categories are often arbitrary, but once an arbitrary boundary exists we forget that it is arbitrary -- and get way too impressed with its importance. To put it another way, when you think categorically you have trouble seeing how similar or different two things are – boundaries become barriers that focus people’s attention on specific trees and prevents them from being able to see the forest.  If you pay lots of attention to where boundaries are, you pay less attention to complete pictures.³

Each behavior isn’t a stand-alone act of freewill. It is the end product of all the biological influences that came before it and will influence all the factors that follow it. Thus, it is impossible to conclude that a behavior is caused by a gene, a hormone, a childhood trauma, because the second you invoke one type of explanation, you are de facto invoking them all – you have to think complexly about complex things. Wow, what a revelation!⁴

Today, we hear a lot about how much we have in common with other animals. But, in order to really grasp our humanness, we need to consider “solely human things” -- the things humans do that are unique.

● While a few other species have regular nonreproductive sex – humans are the only ones that talk afterward about how it was.

● Humans construct cultures premised on memes (beliefs) concerning the nature of life and can transmit those beliefs multi-generationally -- even between two humans separated by millennia (consider a person reading the perennial best seller, the Bible).

● Humans can harm other humans by doing things as unprecedented as, and no more physically taxing than -- pulling a trigger, or nodding consent, or looking the other way.

● Humans can be passive-aggressive -- damn with faint praise, cut with scorn, express contempt with patronizing concern.

All species are unique, but humans are unique in some pretty unique ways – especially when it comes to harming or caring for another human.⁵ Learning how to incorporate the TOV Center model in discussions about human behavior changes the dynamics of how participants interact with those who are “like them” and “those in other groups.”

However, participating in discussion in which the TOV Center model is used allows all members of the group to engage in a new way of self-discovery. It doesn’t usually take long for people to recognizing the irrationalities of humans.

● Humans are not rational optimization machines.

● Humans are more generous in games than logic predicts -- we decide if someone is guilty based on reasoning but then decide their punishment based on emotion.

● Humans make strong moral decisions without being able to explain why.

● You can’t readily reason yourself out of a belief that you weren’t originally reasoned into.

The first benefit of incorporating the TOV Center model of humanness in discussions between members of “Us vs. Them” political, religious and economic groups is the creation of “opportunities for cooperation.” In a nation in which disagreement, hate, polarization and fragmentation have become the expected outcomes -- the possibility of “cooperation” is very appealing.

The TOV Center’s Lives 1^st Initiative is committed to helping people survive and thrive in the new environments in which we live today. Connect with the TOV Center’s Lives 1^st Initiative in one or more of the options below.

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Link to the TOV Center’s Lives 1^st Initiative through Facebook, Twitter and our Blogs.

Visit the TOV Center website for links to all of these so you will stay up to date.

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Please “Like” the Lives 1^st Facebook Page now if you find this interesting.

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¹ Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst by Robert M. Sapolsky © 2017; Penguin Press, New York, NY; p. 4-5.

² Behave; p. 5.

³ Behave; p. 6.

⁴ Behave; p. 7-8.

⁵ Behave; p. 11.

(Updated 10/14/18)

Upgrading to a 21st Century Lives 1st Reality

We are experiencing a society unlike any generation has ever experienced before. It is the product of an evolved democratic society, groundbreaking scientific discoveries and powerful new computer driven technologies that are placing new power options in the hands of the masses – and delivering relentless attacks of weaponized memes against them.

Old Realities institutions are incapable of, not only protecting Americans, but also of making sense of life in America today. Only a New Reality model can protect us from these new dangers and equip us to take advantage of the new opportunities we have to make our lives much safer, better and happier.

● The first step for equipping ourselves to survive and thrive in this new world is by becoming aware of the 21^st century scientific model of what humans are -- Humans are creatures that are genetically structured, memes driven and socially dependent for survival.

● The next step is to become aware of the roles genes, memes and social structures play in your life and the lives of everyone else in America today.

Old Realities are not working in the social media driven Realities that exist today. They will only intensify the epidemic of conflicts that are sweeping across America and destroying relationships between family members, friends, neighbors, citizens and strangers – and the violence associated with them.

The 21^st century scientific model of what we are as humans provides us with an opportunity to break through Old Reality barriers that no generation has ever had before. Think of what it would mean to move past the political, economic and religious conflicts that have taken over our lives!

The TOV Center’s Lives 1^st Initiative is committed to helping people survive and thrive in the new environments in which we live today. Connect with the TOV Center’s Lives 1^st Initiative in one or more of the options below.

______________________________________________

Link to the TOV Center’s Lives 1^st Initiative through Facebook, Twitter and our Blogs.

Visit the TOV Center website for links to all of these so you will stay up to date.

______________________________________________

Please “Like” the Lives 1^st Facebook Page now if you find this interesting.

______________________________________________

Watch discussions between Rabbi Jeffrey Leynor and Jim Myers on Genesis 1

Watch discussions between Rabbi Jeffrey Leynor and Jim Myers about the ancient wisdom principles and values embedded in the Hebrew texts of the first creation account in Genesis. Genesis 1 Part 1 consists of eight very short videos that cover the first four days of creation. They have been posted on Facebook, but you do not have to be a Facebook member to watch them. When you click on the play button of each video, a “Sign Up Screen” will pop up -- just click on the “Not Now” option and the video will play. Go to the TOV Center Videos Page to find links to the eight short videos online – CLICK HERE.