Toilet Paper Coronavirus Chaos: Blame Our Tricky Brains!
Franco Greco • March 4, 2020
It turns out that the process of evolution has actually left our brains in a mess! Dr Paul Gilbert has referred this to us having a 'tricky brain.' What else can explain the toilet paper buying spree.
Evolution, or ‘survival of the fittest’, has ensured that we develop clever ways to survive so that we can pass life onto – and protect – the next generation.
But, evolution has left us with a flawed system: We are stuck with a brain that we did not design, which contributes to us reacting in ways we do not necessarily want. This can lead us to make situations worse for ourselves and others.
Our Tricky Brains
Our ‘tricky’ brains can produce dozens of unwanted thoughts and emotions – we can hold onto the pain or shame of the past, we can get triggered by unwanted anxieties about the future, and we can turn to attacking ourselves about present unwanted emotions with our ‘inner-critics’.
Although our brains have evolved to solve amazingly complex problems in the physical world, we cannot use the same problem-solving logic to permanently ‘solve’ the problem of unwanted emotions.
In other words, our evolution, ‘tricky brains’, and our common humanity (with all of its ups and downs) unites us all.
Toilet Paper Buying Spree
The phenomena we are experiencing at the moment of the' toilet paper coronavirus buying' reflects in a large part to the old brain and the new brain engaging in a loop - where our minds turn in on itself.
What do I mean by old and new brain? Our old brain consists of two parts:
- we share the same reptilian brain that evolved over 200 million years ago - basic motives of survival seeking food, sexual opportunities and status, defensive mechanism such as fighting, flight, freeze.
- we also share the mammalian brain (or limbic system) that evolved about 200 million years ago. Similar to reptiles, mammals also have an interest in feeding, fighting, fleeing and having sex. However, they also have an interest in ways of caring for their offspring, in bonding, playing and social communication. This part of the brain plays an important part in the functioning of basic emotions like anxiety, anger, sadness and joy, which helped animals evolve with their motives, and, ultimately survive and prosper.
Our 'new brain' evolved around two million years ago. This is located in the prefrontal cortex gave rise to wonderful new abilities such as:
- our ability to imagine things
- we can consider the future
- we can think about our thinking
- we can reflect on things in the past.
Old and new brain loops - a mind that can turn on itself
I know I am simplifying things here - and apologies to neuroscienists - but we know that our new competencies for thinking, imagining, ruminating, worrying and self-awareness can interact well with our old brain motives, emotions and behaviours, can can sit alongside each other in a coordinated and helpful way.
Most of the time!
However, at times these different new and old functions can get caught up in unhelpful 'loops.' Our mind can turn on itself in a way that can lead to 'glitches', which in turn can drive some (at times high) levels of distress and difficulties we experience in life.
What has this to do with buying toilet paper?
Here is how it plays out for John:
- New Brain - I am worried about coronavirus. I listened to the news about people buying toilet paper
- Old Brain - heart racing, tense muscles - anxiety
- New Brain - The supermarket is going to run out.
- Old Brain - Anxiety
- New Brain - I am such a bad father. I have let down my kids ... I am lazy ... I need to go right now and buy some toilet paper.
- Old Brain - Anxiety and anger.
John has engaged in both the threat system - protection and safety - and the drive system - wanting and needing.
Hmm - what do you think? Does this resonant with you?
Interested in your thoughts!
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