View source for Psychoengineering

'''Psychoengineering''' is a research-based [[engineering]] practice designed to control and mitigate mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. This site serves as a guide to psychoengineering and how to perform it.

Humans have two primary systems of acquiring knowledge: [[w:Intuition|intuition]], a fast and unconscious reflex; and [[w:Logical reasoning|logic]], a slow and deliberate process.{{sfn|Kahneman|2011|pp=20-23}} Each of these dual cognitive methods is designed to interface with a specific type of information,{{sfn|Darlow|Sloman|2010|pp=1-3}} and are thus connected to different parts of the brain. The neural circuitry of intuition (the amygdala, basal ganglia and lateral temporal cortex){{sfn|Lieberman|2003|p=7}} is linked to circuitry related to working memory, motor control, attention, perception, and empathy.{{sfn|Ramezanpour|Fallah|2022}}{{sfn|Roozendaal|et al.|2009}}{{sfn|Schacter|et al.|2020}} Meanwhile, the neural circuitry of reason (anterior cingulate cortex, prefrontal cortex, and the medial temporal lobe including the hippocampus){{sfn|Lieberman|2003|p=10}} is linked to circuitry related to long-term memory recall, executive function, and complex decision-making.{{sfn|Aharoni|et al.|2013}}{{sfn|Friedman|Robbins|2021}}

These systems are implicated in different behaviors, but like everything in the brain they are deeply connected and regularly interface with each other. For example, one could notice a dessert table and be drawn to it by their intuitive, perceptual mind - but ultimately be drawn away from it by their logical mind.{{sfn|Darlow|Sloman|2010|p=1}}{{efn|Psychoengineering uses "intuitive/logical mind" for these systems, but they have many different names in contemporary psychology. Stanovich uses "systems 1/2", so as to not give a preference to either system. Evans has used "old/new mind", in reference to the phylogenetic age of each system.{{sfn|Evans|Stanovich|2013|p=1}} Darlow and Sloman use "intuitive/deliberate system" to emphasize the level of conscious control present in each.{{sfn|Darlow|Sloman|2010|p=2}}}}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin: auto; empty-cells: hide;"
! [[Intuitive mind]] !! [[Logical mind]]
|-
| 
* Fast and parallel
* High error rate
* Useful in persuasion, detecting deception
* Useful for perceptual, physical knowledge
* Automatically driven by similarity and association
* Prone to [[cognitive distortions]]
|
* Slow and sequential
* Relatively low error rate
* Impossible to construct morality with alone
* Useful for complex decision-making
* Deliberately driven by structured, relational data
* Tends to disregard emotions
|-
|}

This [[dialectic of mind|dialectic]] was first hypothesized by [[dialectic of mind#history|ancient philosophers]], who developed practices to synthesize the two minds. These practices, refined by neuropsychology, form the basis of the techniques used in [[w:dialectical behavioral therapy|dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)]].{{sfn|Linehan|Dimeff|2001|p=1}} The goal is to achieve the [[synthetic mind]]:

{| class="wikitable" style="margin: auto"
! [[Synthetic mind]]
|-
| 
* Balances intuitive and logical minds
* Highly adaptable
* Can identify [[cognitive distortions]] using logical [[w:metacognition|metacognition]]
{| class="wikitable" style="margin: auto; margin-top: 10px"
! [[w:Emotional intelligence|Emotional intelligence]]
|-
| 
* Can discern, label, and communicate internal emotional state (beyond "good", "bad", and "fine")
* Understands how emotions (current and future) can affect decision-making abilities
* [[w:Emotional validation|Validating]] others and self
|} 
{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 10px"
! [[w:Acceptance|Acceptance]]
|-
| 
* Capable of [[cognitive defusion]]
* Understanding that the current moment in time cannot be changed, only the future can be changed
* Understanding that [[pain]] is inevitable but [[suffering]] is optional{{sfn|Alschuler|Krabak|Kratz|Jensen|Pomeranz|Burns|Bautz|Nordeen|Irwin|Lipman|2020}}
|} 
|}

Within the synthetic mind, the objective is to [[debug]] and eliminate unwanted behaviors. [[Bugs]] typically have a fundamental [[cognitive distortion]] that fuels them.

== Obstacles to achieving synthetic mind ==

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    emotionalstate[<a href='https://psycho.engineering/wiki/Emotional_state'><b>Emotional state</b></a>] --> perspective
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All of these components of well-being should be improved simultaneously, but it is important to note that elements at the base are typically more capable of overwhelming the synthetic mind.

'''[[Neurochemistry]]''': Chemistry of individual neurons, determined genetically, which can significantly alter [[hedonic baseline]]. [[w:Monoaminergic|Monoaminergic]], [[w:GABAergic|GABAergic]], and [[w:glutamatergic|glutamatergic]] systems are strongly implicated in depression{{sfn|Kaltenboeck|Harmer|2018|p=1}} and anxiety.{{sfn|Martin|Ressler|Binder|Nemeroff|2009|pp=1-3}} Treatment: [[w:psychopharmaceutical|psychopharmeceuticals]].

'''[[Somatic state]]''': Conditions like sleep deprivation<ref>{{harvnb|Harrison|Horne|2000}}</ref> and body temperature{{sfn|Doohan|Watzek|King|White|Stewart|2023}} can negatively affect logical decision making. Masicampo and Baumeister observed that drinking lemonade mixed with sugar as opposed to [[w:Splenda|Splenda]] after an energy-depleting self-control task increased rule-based decision making.{{sfn|Masicampo|Baumeister|2008}}{{sfn|Gailliot|Baumeister|DeWall|Maner|Plant|Tice|Brewer|Schmeichel|2007}} Exercise has also been shown to improve problem-solving abilities.{{sfn|Hillman|Erickson|Kramer|2000}} Treatment: [[somatic management]].

'''[[Emotional state]]''': Distress has a significant effect on logical reasoning - arachnophobes perform significantly worse than non-arachnophobes on logical tests that relate to spiders, for example.{{sfn|Jung|Wranke|Hamburger|Knauff|2014}} Loneliness{{sfn|Şimşek|Koçak|Younis|2021}} and anger{{sfn|Zajenkowski|Zajenkowska|2015}} also negatively correlate to logical ability. Treatment: [[acceptance therapy]].

'''[[Perspective]]''': Perspective shifts such as [[w:distancing (psychology)|self-distancing]] and the [[w:growth mindset|growth mindset]] have a neurological basis in provoking self-reflection and heightening intrinsic motivation, respectively.{{sfn|White|Kross|Duckworth|2015}}{{sfn|Ng|2018}} Treatment: [[cognitive defusion]].
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== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== Citations ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== References ==
* {{Aharoni et al., 2013}}
* {{Alschuler et al., 2020}}
* {{Darlow & Sloman, 2010}}
* {{Doohan et al., 2023}}
* {{Evans & Stanovich, 2013}}
* {{Friedman & Robbins, 2021}}
* {{Gailliot et al., 2007}}
* {{Harrison & Horne, 2000}}
* {{Hillman et al., 2008}}
* {{Jung et al., 2014}}
* {{Kahneman, 2011}}
* {{Kaltenboeck & Harmer, 2018}}
* {{Lieberman, 2003}}
* {{Linehan & Dimeff, 2001}}
* {{Martin et al., 2009}}
* {{Masicampo & Baumeister, 2008}}
* {{Ng, 2018}}
* {{Ramezanpour & Fallah, 2022}}
* {{Roozendaal et al., 2009}}
* {{Schacter et al., 2020}}
* {{Şimşek et al., 2021}}
* {{White et al., 2015}}
* {{Zajenkowski & Zajenkowska, 2015}}

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