“ … findings … published in the International Journal of Injury Control and Safety Promotion [by Anthony Fabio, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh] indicate that among people predisposed to hostility, watching more TV than their peers poses a greater risk for injuries requiring hospitalization – potentially because they are more susceptible to television’s influence on violence and risk-taking behaviors.” [Micaela Corn, Pitt Magazine, Winter 2016, p. 26]
Aside from the obvious, several things caught my attention in this article.
First was the conjecture that some people are “predisposed to hostility”. How so? Such a “predisposition” might, of course, arise from genetic imprints or from the environment or from both – TBD. However, I’m inclined to think, no matter what the genetic imprint endows, reinforcement or de-inforcement from the environment can have a defining impact. Thus, whether one does or does not have an inborn inclination to violence or hostility, a predominating exposure to violence and hostility will either reinforce or over-ride the original hardware. In the latter case [i.e., with an originally “non-predisposed” blueprint], a predominating exposure will essentially REWIRE the workings to create a de facto “predisposition”.
It turns out that the brain is an exquisitely malleable organ! Thus, it can be “Post-Disposed” to whatever it is “fed” or challenged to tackle. From Stanford University, we get this clip:
“ … today we recognize that the brain continues to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. This phenomenon, called neuroplasticity, allows the neurons in the brain to compensate for injury and adjust their activity in response to new situations or changes in their environment.” http://web.stanford.edu/group/hopes/cgi-bin/hopes_test/neuroplasticity/
Second, the increased liabilities among this “hostility” group may not simply be a matter of watching more TV, but a matter of selectively watching more violent TV. Thus, one can vicariously identify with superheroes unbounded by social norms. Being, thus, vicariously “licensed” as a superior being with superior intellect, superior prowess and superior powers, it “naturally” follows that there are associated immunities which compel and indemnify higher risk-taking behavior. “Untouchable” and “immortal” are associated inclinations predisposing one to hostility and increased risk-taking.
Impulse control in response to the environment is one of the defining challenges of a nascent and immature mind.
Mental immersion or “trafficking” in the gratuitously sensual is a “Gateway” pursuit, predisposing one to multiple calamitous outcomes.
With reinforcement of such immersion, increasingly permanent tracks are etched in the brain which cannot easily be “pruned”. Unfortunately, trash tends to pile up!
“Garbage in, garbage out!”
Information Technology Axiom
And when the Environmental Services trucks (self-editing, societal disapprobation or professional intervention) are deterred from clearing it away, it can become an intractable barrier to progress.
PTSD is a complex mental immersion construct that can rarely be completely undone. But emerging neuroplasticity research, combined with new tools being developed in Virtual Reality, and combined with high intensity exercise regimens, may bring new promising possibilities.
Mind-altering drugs modulate multiple levels of “neuroplasticity” – both chemical (via neurotransmitter mimicking or antagonism, including hypersensitization and desensitization/tachyphylaxis), and biological (carving out alternative neuronal “tracks”). Provocative/violent movies, video games and TV can, similarly, be categorized as “virtual pharmacologics”. Trafficking in child pornography on the internet is a massively expanding public health concern.
Diet is one of the most diverse sources of brain-body interaction that can dramatically affect brain function. While a highly selective “Blood-Brain Barrier” exists to protect – generally – against toxicities and inflammation, biologic mimetics and hyper-or hypo-physiologic signaling can cause major havoc, leading to degenerative changes, dependencies and addictions.
Thus, “neuroplasticity” runs both ways: Optimal conditions can enhance neuronal capacity and trafficking, whereas sub-optimal or toxic conditions (perhaps including stress?) can limit or diminish or derange capacity. We’re still stuck with greater or lesser modulations in our fundamental biology. (While some claim IQ can be affected to modest degrees, nobody has yet figured out how to make us all geniuses – I’m still anxiously waiting!)
Finally, while all may not be lost in sub-lethal traumatic brain injury, the recovery of completely “normal” function in such cases – or following years of abuse or neglect – becomes less likely with time. “Scarring”, both chemical, biological and psychological, can impose severe limitations on functional recovery/restoration.
Every moment we’re making judgment calls. “This is OK.” “This is NOT OK.” “Do THIS, not THAT.” “I can do better.” “Time is slipping away.” “I can’t be bothered.” “I HAVE TO be bothered!” Better judgment calls come from experience in making better judgment calls.
Summation: Whatever we are predisposed – or become “post-disposed” – to be, do or pursue, we are built with an amazing capacity to survive. Whether one is inclined to believe that capacity is bestowed by a creative Power of the universe or by “Survival of the Fittest” emergence from astronomical dust, the capacity is awesome. However, that capacity can be compromised or violated in many different ways. But it can also be expanded. How we do our “Mind Minding” in the 21st Century will become increasingly critical. The top 350 million “fittest” out of a world population of 7 billion will be positioned not only to survive but to thrive. The rest will increasingly and unnecessarily struggle – mostly because of neglected or abused “Mind Minding”. Quartermaster
“Binge-O-Meter”
Point to Ponder
“After analyzing viewing habits for more than 100 serialized TV shows, Netflix found that some genres are fully consumed – a season watched from start to finish – faster than others. Fast-paced, twisty thrillers and horror shows like Breaking Bad hook viewers for 2 ½ hours a day, on average.” [TIME, June 27, 2016, p. 23]
