Part 4 — The Neuroscience of the Male Brain
In Part 1, I answered the questions, “Men and mental health, what are we missing?” Part 2 focused on how “mental health crises put everyone at risk”. In Part 3, I explored Gender-Specific Therapy and Men’s Therapy. In Part 4, I’ll share recent research from leading neuroscientists.
Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor is one of the world’s leading neuroscientists. In 1996 she suffered a massive stroke in the left hemisphere of her brain. It took her many years to fully recover, but what she learned can help us all change our lives for the better. After her recovery she wrote a book about what she learned and gave a TED talk, “My Stroke of Insight.” It has now been viewed over 25 million times and remains one of the most popular TED talks ever.
Prior to the publication of her latest book, Whole Brain Living: The Anatomy of Choice and the Four Characters That Drive Our LivesI had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Taylor.
Knowing your four brain characters
“There is now convincing neuroanatomical evidence for the existence of four brain characters,”
says Dr. Taylor.
“The surgical separation of the two hemispheres of the brain has shown us scientifically that they are not simply two anatomically separate halves of a whole. Instead, the two halves of our brains host completely different character profiles that each exhibit unique desires, dreams, interests, and desires.”
Dr. Taylor found that in each hemisphere of the brain there is one thinking character and one emotional character.
“Neuroanatomically these four groups of cells make up the left and the right think tanks of our superior cerebral cortex, as well as our left and right Emotional centers of our lower limb system,” says Dr. Taylor.
He goes on to add:
“The better you know your Four Characters, the easier your life will be.”
Since all information comes to the brain first through our emotional centers, Dr. Taylor says we all are
“Feeling beings that think, instead of thinking beings that feel.”
The philosopher, the saying of Rene Descartes cogito, ergo sum(Latin: “I think, therefore I am”), whose views have greatly influenced our culture, demonstrates the imbalance toward our thinking centers that have come to overshadow our emotional centers.
Character 1. This logical character in your left-brain thinking is amazingly gifted at creating order in the outside world. This part of your brain defines right/wrong and good/bad based on its moral compass. It is also Character 1 of our left brain that triggers our stress response as it is always alert for potential danger.
Dr. Taylor suggests naming each of our brain characters as a way to begin to become familiar with these unique characters within us. He calls her character 1, Helen.
“It’s hell on wheels doing things”
says Dr. Taylor.
I call mine character 1, J-DiJ For Just Do It, Jed. This character is action oriented, takes no prisoners. He is impatient and jumps into creating solutions, often before he understands all the facts. Instead of taking his time – On your mark, get ready, go – he often “goes off” quickly, never having to get ready or prepare. This can and often does cause problems in my life and relationships.
As you get to know your own character 1, you’ll find your own name and learn its characteristics. Dr. Taylor lists some of the characteristics of Character 1 as follows:
- It organizes and categorizes everything.
- It divides people into us and their.
- It is protective of him Our people and suspected of these people.
- Plan well.
- He respects authority.
- He critically judges right and wrong, good and bad.
- I am interested in details and differences.
- It measures everything.
Character 2. The emotional nature of the left brain raises a vital question: “Am I safe?” This is the key issue for any intimate relationship, as well as our very survival in our long evolutionary history. Making a wrong decision was literally a matter of life and death, especially for women. Choosing an unsafe mate put women at risk of sudden death from predators, from males from other tribes who could harm her children, and from a potentially unreliable mate. For men, the danger also existed, but the threat of death was less imminent.
The 2 character is often fueled by a familiar feeling of restlessness stemming from a traumatized or out-of-control past. As a result, this Character 2 part of our brain can end up feeling either “less than” or “undeserving.” It can also cause fears of abandonment. That’s why I’m calling mine character 2, Aban.
Many of the conflicts I have had in my relationships stem from my fears that my security needs were being threatened.
Dr. Taylor says some of the most important features of character 2 include:
- He gets angry and yells when upset.
- He feels guilty.
- It internalizes shame.
- He loves conditionally.
- Holds negative self-criticisms.
- He experiences great anxiety and worry.
- Egocentric.
- He blames others.
Where characters 1 and 2 look at issues of our past and future and how we can use things and people, our right brain characters 3 and 4 are about the present moment and how we can see the big picture, connect with others and appreciate their uniqueness.
Character 3. The emotional right brain is our experiential self that looks for similarities rather than differences with other people. She wants to connect, explore and have adventures with others. The way you feel in the present moment is wonderful, and sharing time, having fun, or connecting deeply through empathy can be enjoyable for everyone.
I call my character 3, jedi, my wife’s lovely name, Carlin, calls me when we’re feeling most connected and playful. Jedi is like a big, happy puppy. He is spontaneous, exuberant, unrestrained. He may unexpectedly jump into your lap and lick your face. He may also overwhelm you with his barks of pleasure and may even pee here and there when he’s overexcited.
Dr. Taylor says some of the most important features of Character 3 include:
- Lenient.
- Awe inspiring.
- Playful.
- Empathic.
- Creative.
- Cheerful.
- Curious.
- Promising.
Character 4. The right-brain thinking character that exists as our most peaceful, open and loving self. Our character 4 is here, right now, and fully invest in celebrating the gift of life with immense gratitude, acceptance, openness and love. I call my character 4, The Lovers. My tarot deck says card VI, Loversis
“Symbolized by the united male and female, it is the law of union – unity through the marriage of opposites.”
Along with the right-brained feeling of Character 3, Character 4 is what Dr. Taylor experienced in all its glory when the left side of her brain was incapacitated by the cerebral hemorrhage.
“This is the part of our consciousness, the right thinking brain that we share with each other and with all other life.”
says Dr. Taylor.
“I see the brain cells under our Character 4 as the gateway through which the energy of the universe enters and feeds every cell in our body. It is the omniscient intelligence from which we came, and it is how we embody the consciousness of the universe.”
Dr. Taylor says some of the most important traits of Character 4 include:
- Awareness: I am connected to all of this.
- Expansive: I am open to possibilities and appreciate the big picture.
- Acceptance: I am curious about what it is and accept all life experiences.
- Embracing change.
- Authentic.
- Generous of Spirit.
- Vulnerable.
- Connected: In cosmic flow consciousness I embrace the timeless, omniscient part of myself that is connected to all that is.
The colleague of Dr. Taylor, Iain McGilchrist, is a psychiatrist and author of The Master and His Emissary: The Split Brain and the Making of the Modern World. Dr. McGilchrist says,
“We have more knowledge than ever, and yet the world is getting worse. Isn’t it like a spell leading our minds in the wrong direction? Aren’t we empowering machines while disempowering humans? Isn’t the technocratic approach to nature, health, education, social relations and digital transformation counterproductive and leading us to a more dehumanizing world?”
We need to engage all four brain characters and both hemispheres of the brain, but as Dr. McGilchrist has shown, the right hemisphere must be in charge and in our modern world we are out of balance.
“We act like people with right-hemisphere damage who treat the world as a mere resource to be exploited.“
The hope for our collective future is to recognize our imbalance, learn to let our right brain characters 3 and 4 lead, and let our left brain characters 1 and 2 do what they are supposed to do – to be the messenger rather than trying to be the master. Getting our heads together may be the most important thing humans can do if we are to return to the community of life on planet Earth.
I have found it very helpful in solving many issues in my life to have what Dr. Taylor calls it a “brainstorm” where I can hear from all four characters. When all my characters have been heard, it is clear which character should take charge in a certain situation. Usually my right hemisphere characters 3 and 4 have the big picture wisdom and left hemisphere characters 1 and 2 need to listen well and support the decision that my right hemisphere characters have clearly seen, especially the character 4.
Since we are all born as a result of the sexual union between a male and a female, I envision my Character 4 as a partnership of a male and female character that captures the essence of all my male and female ancestors. This is truly a leadership team that can guide my future. I invite you to visit The website of Dr. Taylor here.
Stay tuned for more articles that will explore additional topics related to the importance of men’s mental health. If you don’t already receive my free weekly newsletter, you can sign up here. Coming soon, information on the new film, Sensitive Men Rising.
