Topic - A Different Political Opinion Is A Threat
People challenging your political beliefs lately? What about your religion?
Our neurology is the reason we respond so intensely to challenge.
The brain’s “default mode” engages when a person thinks about their inner world. The “executive attention network” is activated when dealing with the external world.
Because religion and political positions are so closely associated with our basic identity, the parts of our brain that signal we’re under attack light up when we’re challenged.
When the brain starts screaming “threat, threat, threat!”, reasoning shuts down and emotions take over.
Political and religious beliefs are laid down early in our development and influence the kinds of friends we have and the jobs we accept, so it’s easy to see how our belief system is continually reinforced.
Knowing where your intense feelings are coming from will help you put the fight in perspective. Keep it healthy, people.
