Chapter 326. Exercise APA 2-1

ORIGINAL SOURCE

For the sake of argument, let us consider the possibility that conscious mind is the “I” of each person, and can sometimes be in control. If one thinks of this as an avatar, the conscious mind avatar not only can control the subconscious but it can also control itself. Conscious mind can choose what to read, what people to associate with, what is good for the individual, what attitudes to hold and adjust, what to believe, and what to do. True, because of pre-existing subconscious programming, some conscious choices are more deterministic than others. But because of conscious mind, everyone can at least become aware of the price being paid for bad choices and have the option to change course, to change brain’s programming accordingly.

It is clear that a brain avatar could make such choices. What is less clear is whether those choices are freely willed. . . . True, the avatar representations are often modified and biased by the output of subconscious programming, as evidence by mental “knee-jerk” responses.

From Klemm, W. R. (2011). Neural representations of the sense of self. Advances in Cognitive Psychology, 7(1), 16-30. doi:10.2478/v10053-008-0084-2

[The source passage is from page 22.]

Excerpt from “Neural representations of the sense of self.” Advances in Cognitive Psychology, 7(1), 16-30. Reprinted by permission.

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