Wired to Connect |
Thursday Mar 06 2008
Recent advances in neuroscience have discovered that our brains are wired to be social, and that our inner states affect those around us. Daniel Goleman’s book Social Intelligence reveals that our brains are like wireless octopi, with invisible tentacles scanning the environment searching for messages. Mirror neurons in our brain fire when we observe an action or mood in another. That’s how someone smiling at you can make you smile, how long-term partners can come to resemble each other through facial mimicry, and how ideas can spread like wildfire through society. The good news about this is that we can positively influence others by modulating our mood. For example, angry people can be ‘infected’ by hanging out with calm people.
Even more inspiring to hear is that we’re wired for compassion and kindness. Studies in Goleman’s book mention that infants cry when they hear other infants crying (but not when they a recording of their own crying) and that monkeys will starve themselves if they associate eating with inflicting cruelty on another monkey.
At the end of the day, we may be our own worst enemy—or our own best friend. Consider putting down that Blackberry to be present to a meaningful conversation. Take a moment to see the world from the store clerk’s perspective before speaking. The choice is ours as to who and how we connect with each other.
Tagged with: compassion intelligence mirror_neurons mood
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