I'm reading a psychology book describing the brain and came across this quote.
"The healthy vain brain is a protective shield designed to control the potential for terror that results frow awareness of the horrifying possibility that we humans are merely transient animals grouping to survive in a meaningless universe, destined only to die and decay"
2006-10-03 08:32:24 · 19 answers · asked by Raziel 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
A psychologist, T. Pyszczynski, wrote the statement in an assessment of self-esteem, or the lack thereof. It is not fact, not pathologically correct, and not challenged as such. It is an assessment of a psychological function, period. The correct quote is that vanity, or that part of the brain presumed to control vanity impulses, "IS a protective shield designed to control the potential for terror that results from awareness of the horrifying possibility that we humans are merely transient animals groping to survive in a meaningless universe, destined only to die and decay."
The psychologists assertion was that vanity to some degree is necessary for self-esteem, which is in itself a means of self-preservation. It has nothing whatsoever to do with religious faith or belief. It is human psychology. IT, VANITY, is the "protective shield" that allows us to face things that would otherwise be daunting. These "terrors" spoken of were nothing more than things such as the first day of a new job, taking a driver's test, buying a home, etc.
2006-10-03 08:45:19 · answer #1 · answered by reformed 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like that Psycholgist needs a biblical perspective to give him some hope. Without God, there is no purpose to life. Materialism breeds despair. What's with the "potential for terror"??
That doesn't follow.
2006-10-03 08:45:23 · answer #2 · answered by Jay Z 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Makes sense to me...
If so, the next step in our evolution will be to develop a brain that doesn't need the "vain brain" to protect it. Ah, yes, I forgot... atheists already have that. So if we just keep breeding...
2006-10-03 08:36:47 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Obviously written by a person who believes themselves to be no more than a prey species. I would say someone has need of some serious psychological counseling.
2006-10-03 08:46:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
different psychology book than the ones I had as this sounds like the writer was misinterpreted or there was some errors in the printing of this book.
2006-10-03 08:37:18 · answer #5 · answered by Marvin R 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the subject I even have is that this : from a toddler of God attitude !! i think God made ALL issues, one way or yet another, even the so referred to as *organic* continues to be *supernatural* in its own exsistance...... something defined interior the organic continues to be supernatural with in its self....... All issues made with the help of Him grew to grow to be a factor of the organic international... the international we live in !!!! God would not stay interior the organic yet religious.... a non secular international can by no skill be shown interior the organic......they the two pass and divide yet are an identical...... bypass in peace..... God bless
2016-10-01 21:40:44 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not much of an protective shield for some people.
=0P
2006-10-03 08:38:35 · answer #7 · answered by Pashur 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Shabby skin and bones of dirt shield ( for the spirit thats Pure)
2006-10-03 08:40:22 · answer #8 · answered by kay_gaiter 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Replace
"The healthy vain brain"
with
"Religion"
2006-10-03 08:35:51 · answer #9 · answered by roguetrader2000 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In my opinion, this quote means that if we as humans were to realize just how insignificant we are in the grand scheme of things it would drive us crazy.
2006-10-03 08:36:02 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋