Analysis of the Self: Regressing Thought and Social Behavior

Human behavior is often viewed as static in the short-run. And when an individual is closely examined by its peers, the logic parameters leading to decision and action appear to be understood. But it is well-known that humans are evolutionary in behavior and progressive in mind as the brain develops. Unless one is deemed psychotic, humans are most likely to follow the logic they have developed for behavior – the code of social conduct. As more is experienced by the individual and wisdom grows as values shift, the person is likely to act in a different manner.

I have little need to compare the behaviors of infants, children, teens, adults or seniors in order to prove this point. Humans go through constant growth overall, but have points of regression as well. For a stable human, there are peaks and valleys in the upward trend towards a more advance method of conduct – how the human operates and what principles they live by. This gradually changes over time. However, something which I will call a social cognition slip, occurs when a person slips into a previous form of behavior often used or associated with certain individuals.

A method of conduct that is used with certain people becomes engrained in the mind, so that individuals become certain social cues for others. The brain recognizes this pattern of behavior and stores it for later use, which is picked up by the subconscious when said individuals are introduced to the environment. A friend may create a calming atmosphere. A person may cause you to remember a certain inside joke. The presence of a coworker may induce you to horse around. An individual you have never trusted will cause internal tension or stress. The mere sight of an old bully, or perhaps a boss (maybe even a bullying boss), can create a feeling of anxiety or hostility. These things alone are normal cause and effects in a social environment. What makes these into social cognition slips is the amount of time that passes.

It would seem irregular for someone who has grown to adopt a certain method of conduct to suddenly change gears after interacting with strangers. It would also appear strange with individuals he or she has not seen in several years. Both have progressed and regressed at their own pace. Their identity has seemingly altered with age. But the brain takes past interactions with the other person and makes them relevant to the current situation. The past becomes the present, and individuals may experience an old form of thought processing and social discourse, essentially projecting younger versions of themselves. This desire to go back to the “old days” is most likely a mechanism in which the personalities are better able to avoid friction – stemming from the many changes humans go through in life – or the deeper level of thought required for analyzing new situations. It is the reestablishment of past ties and the resurrection of old feelings. It is a desire for permanence in the presence of change.