The Prehistory Of The Mind - 833 Words

When asked â€Å"What makes us human?†, most would say what differentiates humans from other primates and animals is our rationale, our ability to regulate emotions, and also the cognitive computational processes we have to understand complex social situations. In the book The Prehistory of the Mind, the author proposes that the evolution of the prefrontal cortex over the course of history is responsible for these executive processes that result in modern humanity’s cognitive fluidity -- the ability to combine and use intellectual information across specific domains (Mithen 1996). Given its essentialness to the human mind, it is no surprise that any physical deformity or activity abnormality in the prefrontal cortex leads to numerous psychological disorders including anxiety disorders, mood disorders, personality disorders, and schizophrenia. Emotions and rational thinking are vital to the human experience because these two components make it possible for us to interpre t both the internal world within us and the external environment that surrounds us. When we problem solve, we rely on our emotional intelligence and our rational thinking process. The control stemming from the prefrontal cortex allows us to combine these two components when resolving conflicts (Armstern 2009). Its inhibition over the emotional brain – the amygdala, is the foundation for our ability to regulate positive and negative states of mind (Ray 251-252). Dysfunction in the activity of the prefrontalShow MoreRelatedDiscovering Prehistory : Chapter 11687 Words   |  7 PagesPart 1 - Notes Michael Lehmann Discovering Prehistory - Chapter 1 The author Joy McCorriston, was a student at the Institute of Archaeology in London and found out about the chance to visit the Lascaux cave from a radio show contest. Although she didn’t â€Å"win† she was lucky enough to join the tour. She listens to stories from Monsieur Jaceues Marshal, a discoverer of the cave and the cave’s guard as she gets to tour the cave. Lascaux Cave’s discovery had come about because four localRead MoreThe Monsters And Their Origin1412 Words   |  6 PagesMonster Stephen T. Asma has given an analysis of the monsters and their origin. Besides, he gives a definition on the fears of human beings regarding the monsters. The prejudices and fears date back to prehistory and the developments in evolution that have occurred throughout in humanity. The prehistory gives an account of the concerns that people have in today s world. The author uses the term monster to describe myths and physical deformities. Stephen Asma uses the term to describe that there areRead MoreEarly Expression Of Religious Art1597 Words   |  7 Pagesera. Evidence of burial with grave goods and the appearance of anthropomorphic images and cave paintings may suggest that humans in the Upper Paleolithic had begun to believe in supernatural beings. According to Steven Mithen author of The Prehistory of the Mind â€Å"by arriving at original thoughts, which are often highly creative and rely on metaphor and analogy modern humans differ from archaic humans†. This leap o f creativity is visible in the paintings of Chauvet (fig 5) which have been datedRead More The United States’ Lack of Mental Health Care1598 Words   |  7 Pagesdisorders. Many people who were born with mental disorders grow up knowing they have a problem, but people who develop them later in age don’t understand how to cope with it. In prehistory, the idea of a mental illness was challenging to comprehend. The people of these ancient times thought it was magical spirits overcoming the mind. Shamans were called to perform rituals or spells. Shamans also gave the people with mental illness drugs or performed surgeries like trepanning. Trepanning was the processRead MoreThe Relation of Consciousness to the Material World Essays707 Words   |  3 PagesMaterial Worl The relation of consciousness to the material world is puzzle, which has its origin in dualism, a philosophy of mind which posits their fundamental separation. Dualism, in turn, has its roots in folk wisdom. The belief that humans are more than bodies and that there is something in human nature that survives bodily death has its origins in prehistory; it becomes explicit in the mythology of Ancient Egypt and Assyria and was formulated into a philosophical position in the PlatonicRead MoreEdward Bernett Was An English Anthropologist And The Founder Of Cultural Anthropology984 Words   |  4 Pagescultural anthropology. Tylor was focused on defining the context of the scientific study of anthropology that was based on evolutionary theories inspired by Darwin and Lyell. His stance as an evolutionist fueled his belief that researching the prehistory and the history of man could be used to compare and reform modern societies. Therefore, through the use of the comparative method and hist orical ethnography, which included travel logs, Tylor attempted to reveal the stages of development of cultures/civilizationsRead MoreEssay on Body Art543 Words   |  3 Pagesbeen practiced since the time of the ancient Egyptians. H.G Wells stated, In all ages, far back into prehistory, we find human beings have painted and adorned themselves#8230; In some cultures tattoos are considered a sign of maturity, or nobility. In the American culture tattoos are a sign of individualism and fashion. When most people think of body painting, the image that come to mind is more likely that of a Massai worrier. Yet we all paint our bodies for reasons of identification, ritualRead MoreAsdfghjkl894 Words   |  4 Pages(paleoanthropology), prehistoric people (bioarchaeology), and the biology (e.g., health, cognition, hormones, growth and development) and genetics of living populations. * Archaeology Archaeologists study past peoples and cultures, from the deepest prehistory to the recent past, through the analysis of material remains, ranging from artifacts and evidence of past environments to architecture and landscapes. Material evidence, such as pottery, stone tools, animal bone, and remains of structures, is examinedRead MoreEssay on Art in Society726 Words   |  3 PagesWithout art, the world would be a vast empty void of uncreative, unimaginative, non-colourful, bland society; Toast with no butter or topping; boring, life-draining death of the mind. Art is absolutely everywhere in everyday society, yet goes almost unnoticed and unappreciated by some; television, movies, music, stories, billboards, ads, even clothes and jewellery. These are all symbols of art or art in there own right, and without the Arts, there would be none of this. Art has created all theseRead MoreThe History, Criticism And Theory Of The Arts935 Words   |  4 Pagesexample music and dances that are popular in the Western world stemmed from Africa, others thought Africa was an intellectual and inspirational desert, void of any current educational purpose. When the interviewees were asked what first came to their minds when they heard the word â€Å"Africa† most answers dealt with life beginning there. â€Å"Africa held the first civilization, we all originated from there† (Derrick). Another said, â€Å"When I think Africa I think of culture and traditions. People do call Africa