Reactivity - Part 1
Reactivity - Part 1 We humans are born with a pretty good handle on our basic physical needs. If an infant’s airway gets blocked, she coughs. If she is hungry she cries. As we arrive in the world with our instinctive, reptilian brain pretty well developed, we get to work on the emotional and relational part of our brain. Scientists call this part of our brain the mammalian brain or limbic system. They think that most of the wiring for this part of our brain happens in the first 7 years or so. In those early days, we observe those around us. We learn to read facial expressions and tones of voice. We learn which behaviors are acceptable and rewarded in our tribe and which are not. We learn through often painful experience how to protect ourselves. Relationship is an essential requirement in human survival, so our early childhood brain development is all about figuring out how to maintain relationships by studying and interacting with the people around us. This is a good system, with one...