A Lesson in Cognitive Processes
Courtesy of Me, Myself, and Irene
“Meet Charlie — helpful dad, upstanding citzen…” and “veteran of the greatest law enforcement agency in the land”. He also suffers from “advanced delusionary schizophrenia with involuntary narcissistic rage”. But then, don’t we all? Well, hopefully not too many of us.
That said, cognitive science informs us that we are all of two minds… or at least two cognitive processes. Much like Charlie and his alter-ego Hank, these two processes think quite a bit differently. Many people are aware that we have both fast-twitch and slow-twitch muscle fibers, one engineered for speed, the other for endurance. Few realize that the inner workings of our brains function much the same way.
One cognitive process specializes in near constant, light weight processing. It is great at association and processing many of the mindless decisions we make on a moment to moment basis. Unfortunately, this process is highly suggestable and quite naive (much like Charlie). The second takes over when it is time for heavy lifting. It is build for calculations, deep thinking, and focus. It unfortunately takes a lot of energy and stamina to keep it going and is quite skeptical and contrarian (much like Hank).
It is interesting to note, that the shift from one cognitive process to the other is marked by visible physical changes. This is nothing as extreme as Jim Carrey’s facial contortions, but it does include increased heart rate and pupil dilation. Also unlike the movie, these two processes regularly work together, though they certainly have their disagreements.
Jamaal, Lee Harvey, and Shonte Jr.
Charlie’s sons from the movie provide an additional example of how these two processes differ. The boys, whose real parents are both mensa presidents, regularly astound the audience by rolling off scientific definitions and conversions as if they were top of mind information. For most people, this information would not be available to the first cognitive system. It would require system two to uncover the details and calculations required.
The Influence of Genetics, Events, and Environment
Through out the movie, various things trigger the transformation of Charlie into Hank. This is also consistent with our cognitive processes. Influences like fatigue, alcohol, and fear may repress our ability to utilize the second system. These influences force us to rely on the first system to make decisions when we are under duress.
Genetics can also influence how readily we move from one to the other, as can distractions and other influences in the environment. The good news is that you aren’t likely to blackout like Charlie does, but if the first system is required to make too many hard choices, you may wish you had.
Me, Myself, and Irene is a funny and light-hearted movie, but it is also a model that can help you remember the intricacies of cognitive systems. These processes influence our receptivity, focus, and decision making on a near minute to minute basis. They won’t be as extreme or funny as the story of Charlie Bailey Gates and the Rhode Island State Troopers, but they will have a more profound influence on you and your associates.
