American scientists David Rand and Ziv Epstein took up, frankly, a "slippery" topic. They decided to find out what pushes people to exploits. The scientists interviewed laureates who were awarded medals from the Carnegie Heroes Fund. The conclusion surprised psychologists: the courageous and decisive actions of the laureates were not at all caused by a sense of duty or a disinterested desire to save someone's life. People performed heroic deeds unconsciously. They first acted and only then they thought and realized what they had done. Exaggerating, one can recall the hero of the film "Such a guy lives", who explained the reason for his feat in this way: "Out of stupidity."
But American scientists need a scientific version. If the heroes took risks unconsciously, then maybe the reason is in the gene of altruism? Its discovery is periodically reported by various scientific groups. However, opponents object: there is no one gene for altruism, just as there is no gene for happiness, intelligence, fear, etc. Entire gene ensembles are responsible for this. They are yet to be opened.
When ants die saving an anthill, this is not altruism, not morality, but species behavior, a reflex to preserve the gene pool, says Marina Egorova, professor at the Faculty of Psychology at Moscow State University. - In humans, this is inherent at the level of instinct. He first of all saves his relatives and only then other people. Saves his genes to save offspring.
According to Egorova, a number of studies have shown that a person has a predisposition to heroic behavior. The reason is most likely that man is social by nature. Constantly living in a group, we are forced to help others, expecting that our participation will not go unanswered. That is, helping others becomes our habit. And in an emergency, a person can act reflexively, save someone's life, risking his own. This is unconscious heroism. In fact, the prize winners, who were studied by American scientists, spoke about him.
However, they especially emphasize that they do not in any way claim to be true, that their conclusions must be repeatedly rechecked. Much depends on specific people, on the situation in which they showed heroism, on what they clearly remember. And then the results can be opposite. But the very attempt to understand the nature of heroism deserves attention.
The hero of the film "Such a guy lives" explained to the journalist the motive of his feat: "Foolishly" .. Photo: Gorky Film Studio
Can heroism be conscious? The song says, "when the country orders, we have a hero becomes anyone." But anyone? Scientists from different countries have conducted many studies and named a list of incentives to accomplish a feat. They are quite obvious: love for the Motherland, hatred for the enemy, a sense of military duty, comradeship, mutual assistance, fear of contempt from comrades, the desire to distinguish themselves, to receive an award. Each of them can, in principle, move a person to a heroic deed. Everything depends on the situation.
It seems that indeed there is always a place for a feat. But on the other hand, according to American experts, about 90 percent of servicemen experience obvious fear in battle, often purely physiological: nausea, vomiting, etc. And studies by Russian, American, German and French experts show that, in fact, a maximum of 25 percent of soldiers are fighting: they conduct aimed fire, deliberately move to the battlefield, etc. The rest are active only when they are in full view of the commander. If it is not there, they hide in a safe place, imitate the failure of equipment, mental or physical trauma, and "escort" wounded colleagues to the rear.
Of course, all the armies of the world would like to have ideal soldiers, but a person is very unpredictable. Therefore, today scientists are faced with the task of creating an absolute hero, always ready for any feat. This is a robot soldier. And orders and medals for his exploits will be received at headquarters by operators who pull the triggers and triggers of weapons. In such a war, there is a place for a feat for anyone.
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Stories of adultery told by a famous director, best-selling author or neighbor on the porch, are as endless as life itself. What made the person decide to take this step? What did he miss? Who is guilty? We often ask ourselves these questions when we hear about another adultery.
website collected the opinions of psychologists and the results of scientific experiments and talks about the circumstances that increase the risk of infidelity. Read, perhaps after the next story about infidelity there will be fewer questions.
1. Lack of emotional intimacy
The inability to talk heart to heart with a partner and get words of support pushes not only women, but also men to cheat. There is a stereotype in society that the main motive of a man is sex. But marriage counselor Gary Newman writes in his "The Truth About Cheating" that his clients include 47% of men who cheated on their women noted a lack of emotional intimacy in relationships.
The situation is aggravated by the fact that the stronger sex is not inclined to express feelings, therefore, to notice that a man lacks support, a woman may not immediately or ignore it altogether.
2. Influence of experience and environment
Lack of new vivid impressions in intimate life - the reason why 70% of men and 49% of women decide to cheat. It should be noted that many of those who gave such an answer emphasized that, in general, their relationship can be called happy, without major domestic scandals and other misunderstandings.
4. Vulnerability due to the age crisis
In everyone's life there comes a moment when we begin to take stock of the past years. Some come to the conclusion that everything is fine, for others, the same age crisis comes. At this time, a person becomes vulnerable to the temptation to try the forbidden fruit. Research shows that often this happens at 29, 39, 49 years old, that is, before the start of a new decade.
Of course, this does not mean that an exemplary family man and a loving husband will suddenly decide to cheat as soon as he turns 39 years old. Age is just a concomitant factor that can “aggravate” all other circumstances that push people to cheat.
5. Passion for social networks
In couples where one of the partners devotes too much time to Twitter or other social networks, the risk of infidelity increases markedly. Indeed, for adherents of social networks, waking up early or going to bed later to flip through the tape, leaving the other half alone, is a common thing.
Involvement in virtual relationships leads to scandals, and Online communication often turns into real life. These two factors create a favorable environment for adultery.
6. Work and business travel
According to one of the largest polls on the subject, more than 1/3 of cheating men are business people, and they started their affair at work, more often on business trips. Among the weaker sex, the number of those who decide on an office romance is approximately 13%. The likelihood of infidelity in the workplace increases in the 6th-9th years of marriage, because it is during this period that relationships are most fragile and require work on them.
7. Lack of oxytocin
An important role in the formation and maintenance of trusting relationships in a couple is played by oxytocin, which is also called hugging hormone, as its level rises with frequent touching each other, kissing. According to scientists, the lack of this hormone can be a trigger for treason.
What is loyalty to the motherland? Some will say that it is a duty to protect her in difficult times, others that these are just beautiful words that help to instill a sense of patriotism among the youth. For me, it is love for the place where you were born, spent your best years. As a mother loves her child, unsettled, unreasonable, ugly, so we love our Fatherland. But sometimes the Motherland needs our help. There are many other states that want to seize our wealth, natural resources, labor force. It is at this moment that we must stand up for her. War is a difficult test for the country, the people, each person individually. It was during the war years that the main personality traits appeared. It exposes human nature, both the best and the worst side of it. Someone, without hesitation, will give his life for the salvation of his Fatherland, and someone will betray her for the sake of profit.
Speaking of loyalty and treason, we often mean the behavior of a person in wartime. No one can say with certainty how a person will act in a war, what choice he will make: to be a traitor or to be a defender of his homeland?
In Russian literature, one can find many examples of loyalty to the Fatherland. In the work of M. A. Sholokhov "The Fate of a Man", the main character, Andrei Sokolov, faithfully serves his homeland. When war breaks into his happy, carefree life, Sokolov goes to defend his Fatherland without hesitation. In the war, he proves himself as a hero, saves the life of his comrade. Even after being captured, Andrei shows true patriotism. Mortal danger cannot force him to abandon his country, to betray it. He retains dignity and pride, which earns respect from opponents. In Andrey's heart there is a great love for the Motherland, for the people. M. A. Sholovokh, on the example of the protagonist, shows the beauty of the soul and the strength of the character of a Russian person who sacrifices his life for the Fatherland.
However, there were also traitors, those who, by betrayal, by the lives of others, begged the enemies for the opportunity to exist. In V. Bykov's story "Sotnikov", the characters set off to get food for a detachment hidden in the forest. But due to Sotnikov's illness or by chance, the soldiers were captured. In the story, Rybak constantly helps his sick comrade, worries about him. The hero behaves correctly until the end of the work, it does not even occur to the reader that a strong, resourceful fighter can betray his homeland. In captivity, Rybak is faced with a difficult choice: life or death. All his life the hero dodged, and here, in captivity, he decided to behave the same way. For the sake of saving his life, Rybak was ready for anything. Fear of death makes him join the police and betray his homeland.
A man in a war always makes a choice: to be with the people, to protect them, to protect or betray everything that was dear to him in this life. And it depends on this choice who he will become: a hero who will be respected, or a traitor who will be hated by the people. After all, if a person betrayed once, he can do it again.
Valiant law enforcement agencies daily, with the help of local media, inform the townspeople about the incidents of the past day. Every day, according to operational information, thefts occur (53 cases this weekend), fraud is recorded - 7, hooliganism, family quarrels, possession and sale of drugs, illegal handling of weapons, the police take statements of missing persons and accidents. However, a separate column is occupied by suicides, including those of children and adolescents. This weekend, one person took his own life, on July 18 - there were two of them, and so on ... Readers shake their heads, horrified, and nothing changes from this. But what to do?...
Some condemn people who committed suicide, others regret and sympathize with the loved ones of the deceased, and still others try to understand the root of the problem. After all, suicidal tendencies do not appear out of nowhere. Someone believes that this is weakness and an escape from reality and problems, others - that this weakness requires a fair amount of courage and mental strength. The position of the church on this issue is known, unchanged and irreconcilable: suicide is one of the greatest sins. What is the opinion of psychologists?
For answers "Events and comments" turned to Antonina Shurbina, a practicing psychologist at the Youth-Friendly Clinic of the City Children's Polyclinic No. 4.
- Antonina Nikolaevna, tell us how suicidal tendencies arise?
A.Sh.:- The causes of suicide are not only emotional upheavals and traumatic events. Many different factors play a role in the development of suicidal tendencies, including a person's mental health and even genetic predisposition. Thus, among the reasons we can distinguish: genetic predisposition, mental disorders, alcohol and drug addiction, life circumstances. These can be problems in relationships in the family, the death of loved ones, phobias (fears), betrayal, love, deformities. And here it is impossible not to note the influence of computer games on the psyche.
- How can loved ones recognize “alarm bells” in a person’s behavior in time?
A.Sh.:- It is necessary to pay attention to increased anxiety, unmotivated fears, aggression, avoiding all kinds of contacts with people, insomnia, tearfulness, impaired appetite, apathy, the presence of suicidal thoughts.
A careful sudden bringing of all affairs in order, as if summing up, a certain line, should also alert. As well as fussy behavior, constant haste somewhere. According to statistics, 80 percent of people who commit suicide somehow let others know about their intention.
-Following this description hurts the whole generation. We are all in a hurry to live, and we don’t have time to go anywhere, completely forgetting not only about God’s commandments, but also about the elementary logic, so beautifully folded in the works of the eastern sages ... And, therefore, a fairly significant part of the blame lies on the shoulders of us, the survivors , so inattentive to those who left ... So what to do if suddenly such "calls" showed up? How can I help you? How to save?
A.Sh.:- Even an ordinary conversation, an attempt to improve relationships, if there was a crack in them, can save from this step, the “point of no return”. Everyone is able to help their loved ones overcome internal discord, despair, change their attitude towards themselves. It is worth showing as much attention as possible to such a person. Perhaps this is what he lacks. Of course, you need to contact competent specialists.
What kind of people are most suicidal?
A.Sh.:- People who are very sensitive (sensitive) and vulnerable are prone to suicide, because they perceive the world around them too subtly. Suicide is committed in moments of weakness, powerlessness and inability to overcome the conditions of perception of the surrounding world: no goal, no money, strong resentment. The mind simply does not work when the psyche and feelings are bare. They always say: “Calm down, think! A calm mind knows how to think calmly, but an excited and wounded one does not even hear itself…”.
In any difficult situation, you need to stop and try to get out of a stressful state, into a stress-free space, find a soul mate, talk. You need to calm down and balance the psyche. Then there is a way out of even a seemingly impasse.
- Can a person cope with this condition on his own or can not do without outside help?
A.Shch.: - Where there is light, there is no place for darkness. Where there are thoughts of goodness, there are no obsessive thoughts. And suicide is indeed the most serious sin. If such thoughts appear, you need to remember your loved ones. Try to spend more time with cheerful people who love and appreciate life. Do not drink alcohol or keep it to a minimum. And, of course, you need to contact a specialist who will help overcome such situations.
- We are talking about people who have relatives or friends. About those who have someone to help. But what about lonely people? Can we, on the basis of altruistic motives, recognize such a person in the crowd and help him (her)?
A.Sh.:- It is impossible to recognize a person prone to suicide in a crowd. He can behave outwardly absolutely adequately ...
- What services deal with such cases? What specific measures are being taken?
A.Shch.: - The most effective mechanisms are "hot lines", a helpline, psychologists and psychiatrists, work with children in schools, for believers - a temple, and most importantly - love, attention, understanding and care of parents, if we are talking about children. The main thing is not to be alone and not to leave alone our loved ones who are in trouble.
Interviewed by Angelina Krikheli