What's wrong with the diet? Physiological component of the diet.

Chapter 19. Materialistic perception of the psyche

What we're exploring: What gets in the way of elucidating psychological differences?

What's new: How to approach physical research correctly?

What we will learn: What is the reason for the unknowability of psychological differences?

1. "It is important to remember that no one has ever observed a color, a face, a memory, an emotion, an image, or a symbol in neurons. Just as no one has ever observed a neuron transmitting a message or even a signal" (Smith N. 2003) [1].

2. "What we observe in the nervous system are electrochemical impulses, hormonal and metabolic activity, and other biological events" (ibid.).

3. Biological events and psychological differences. Psychological differences are formed based on the biological differences of each person, that is, based on the relationship of morphological, physiological, and biochemical differences (fr. 15. 6; 16. 6; 17. 10). This entire set is inherited genetically and, under the influence of the cultural environment, forms the personality [2]. But, as we already found out in the previous chapter, identity refers to personality, not individuality (fr. 18.7). Therefore, what relates to the psychological differences remains unclear. The elucidation of psychological differences is hampered by at least two reasons.

4. First reason. It consists in the fact that not a single person, or even a scientist, can observe with the help of physical senses both his psyche and the psyche of other people (fr. 19. 1). You can only observe the external manifestation of a person's psyche—his behavior. But behavior does not explain the reason for his actions, what internally drives a person's behavior (motive). Behavior also does not explain what influence faith, values, morals, opportunities, abilities, etc. have on a person's actions. In other words, it is impossible to see the internal manifestations of the psyche - the reasons for various behaviors that manifest a person's individuality:

• "Externally manifested, actual behavior is only the surface, under which lies something fundamental that is its cause" (ibid., italics).

5. The second reason for the obstacle. It is closely related to the first. The obstacle lies in the materialistic perception of the human psyche. What does it mean? Modern psychology has transformed the immaterial (metaphysical) soul into the material (physical) brain:

• "As a result, this organ is seen as playing both a biological and a psychological role" (ibid., italics).

This materialistic approach contradicts at least parts of two sciences. This contradicts cognitive neuroscience, where the brain is presented as a coordinating biological organ (fr. 14. 12). It also contradicts psychology when it does not take into account part of the totality of mental processes that make up the human psyche. What totality of mental processes are we talking about? Materialistic psychology does not consider it necessary to consider the internal processes of individual behavior, since this cannot be determined by scientific methods (Fr. 12.4):

• "Whether it be cognitive mechanisms *, neural networks, unconscious aspirations (urges), motives, instincts, libido, ego, id (it) **, internal motivations (drives), experience, "Iˮ# or social processes [influence of culture, ed. by the author]" (ibid., italics by the author).

* Cognitive mechanisms [learning, ed. author] – this mainly refers to the various ways in which a person deciphers information about reality and organizes it to make decisions or solve pressing problems [3].

** Libido, ego, and id (it) are terms taken from the psychoanalytic theory of Z. Freud. LIBIDO - every given individual has a constant amount of psychic energy, which Freud called libido (which in Latin means "attraction", or "thirst"). ID (IT) is the most primitive part of the personality, from which the ego and superego later develop. The newborn has "it" and consists of basic biological impulses (or needs): the need to eat, drink, remove waste, avoid pain, and obtain sexual (sensual) pleasure. The EGO is a new part of the personality that develops as a small child learns to take into account the demands of reality [1, 4].