Noble Mind
An Exploration of Human Nature.
Consciousness, Intellect, and our Mind.
Chapter 5 Sanity Check
In this chapter
It is time to check where we are and whether this makes sense in terms of our basic understanding of psychological knowledge.
Now, I could claim that the H I Mind Model is simply an evolution of all that has come before, but it will be more useful to try to compare the H I Mind Model to existing knowledge.
Mapping to Prior Knowledge.
So far we have identified some benefits for developing a new model of the human mind (to better explain our experience of being human, to better understand the complexity of our own experience, to better explain why we experience cross-purposes, to better explain the range of our emotions, and so on). Using behavioural and evolutionary considerations, we have proposed the Hemispheric Intelligence Mind Model.
There is an important step that we can now take to gain more confidence in the basic theory of the H I Mind Model, and that is to compare the model with findings from existing sources; from science, psychology, personality work, and philosophy.
This chapter considers some of the most important sources of knowledge that are available to give us workable understandings of the human mind. Each image in this chapter attempts to provide a tentative mapping of existing ‘modalities’ to the basic H I Mind Model.
How Hemispheric Theory and Neuroscience can be Related to the H I Mind Model
Modern Hemispheric Theories offer an intriguing parallel to the H I Mind but are built up from the study of brain function as opposed to the H I Mind which derives from a form of Evolutionary/Behavioural Psychology.
This correspondence between Hemispheric Psychology and the H I Mind Model is intriguing but needs much further study before it could be used as a serious argument for a potential link between the physical brain and a functional model of the mind.
The H I Mind Model also aligns with the Thousand Brains Theory which describes the neocortex as basically providing intelligence in the brain. The Focuses described in the H I Mind Model are described as providing our abilities to learn and act resourcefully, the basic building block of intelligence. There is no mind model covered by the Thousand Brains Theory, and consciousness is specifically excluded, but I believe that the H I Mind Model is reasonably compatible with the Thousand Brains Theory.
Cognitive Psychology Principles Mapped to the H I Mind Model
Cognitive Psychology does not depend on a particular model of the mind, although the basic acceptance of conscious and non-conscious processes is often assumed.
One common concept in Cognitive Psychology is that of Core and Guiding Beliefs. Beliefs about our selves, other people, and life in general can expose valuable information about our way of getting on in life as well as highlighting beliefs that we may have taken on that may be limiting us or causing us trauma.
The mapping of these cognitive beliefs onto the main H I Mind Focuses seems to work well and it also suggests a fourth potential cognitive topic: the future.
Freudian Psychology Mapped to the H I Mind Model
Freud’s basic model of the human mind still exists in popular knowledge.
The H I Mind model may be thought of as an improved and extended version of the contemporary model derived from Freud’s original descriptions.
This mapping is relatively straightforward and perhaps it highlights Freud’s interest in personal betterment.
Jungian Psychology Mapped to the H I Mind Model
Although Jung suggested a basic description of parts of the mind, I believe that Jung was more interested in process in the mind rather than a fixed model of the mind.
This chart gives an interpretation of Jung’s basic descriptions of the mind compared to the H I Mind Model.
Suggested Comparison of the H I Mind Model to Keirsey's Four Main Temperaments
Personality models represent interpretations of behavioural characteristics. In this case there is a potential mapping of the main personality types, or temperaments, described by MBTI/Keirsey testing.
In this chart I show a potential mapping between the four primary ‘temperaments’ identified by Keirsey. There is no direct link between the communication and action axes presented by Keirsey but there is, perhaps, a similarity between the qualities presented in the Keirsey temperaments and the potential consequence of any tendency for a dominant focus to result in personality differences.
Modern theories of consciousness extended by the H I Mind Model
This chart shows an alternative form of the H I Mind Model with the Planning Focus at the centre. The arrows in this chart indicate possible communication paths between the Focuses as well as offering a better indication of the ability of the Planning Focus to communicate directly with the Social Focus and the Aspirational Focus.
There are many modern theories of consciousness that have been proposed as a way to research and study consciousness. Those that focus on the observed functioning of the brain tend to hint at what goes on in consciousness without defining any basic functional attributes of consciousness.
By adding in the semi-conscious Focusses described in the H I Mind Model, with their specific attributes and imperatives, the role and function of consciousness can be more easily understood. Much of what goes on in consciousness can be described as a reconciliation of the varied motivations of the focuses.
This does not explain the whole of consciousness and nor does it answer the vexing question of what consciousness actually is. This approach does offer a considerable advance on other approaches though and there are some tantalising possibilities that can be applied to describe, or rather simulate, the remaining core of consciousness.
This alternative layout also offers a potential for a new understanding of neurodiversity.
These thoughts are explored more deeply in following chapters.
Encouraging results
This final view combines several of the mappings into a single presentation.
The mappings given above are crude but I think help to confirm that the H I Mind Model is compatible with current knowledge. The H I Mind Model provides a new framework but does not do that at the expense of prior knowledge.
One interesting interpretation of this chart is that there may well be some direct correspondence between neuroscience, psychology, and other disciplines through the H I Mind Model.
There are also a number of mappings that I have produced that indicate the H I Mind Model can be used in these diverse areas:• Relationships
• Politics
• Business organisation
• The Shadow Self
• The major mental disorders
In conclusion, I believe that the H I Mind Model could, pending further research, act as a simple psychological ‘Rosetta Stone’ to deepen our understanding of many topics and to improve communications between existing theoretical modalities.