The cross-impact analysis generates similar insights (or at least questions) regarding emotions, templates, and dominant anticipations. Many up-arrows suggest that members of this system are likely to retain an optimistic psychosocial template, feel good about working in this system, and anticipate positive outcomes resulting from whatever actions are to be taken. Conversely, a matrix in which negative arrows are abundant portends a pessimistic psychosocial template (“dog eat dog”), negative feelings about working in this system, and anticipation of negative (or unexpected) outcomes regardless of the actions being taken.
Finally, we find the “disengaged” (“0” filled) cross-impact matrix to be indicative of a system in which “there is no there, there.” Glue is lacking that binds members of this system to some greater purpose. Feelings of alienation or indifference are likely to prevail, accompanied by a psychosocial template that is devoid of much content. Members of the system often don’t even bother to anticipate any outcomes because they don’t feel like their actions will make much of a difference anyway. A sense of powerlessness and hopelessness leaves one without appreciation for any polystatic perspective regarding a specific “0” filled setting. In such a setting, homeostasis might provide a valid perspective. Everything does fall back to some stable state when no one really “gives a damn . . .”
All of this suggests that Emotions show up whenever we are using the force-field and cross-impact tools. We are also likely to experience the activation of our orbital cortex and amygdala when “viewing” and “feeling” our cognitive processing of anticipations and reflecting on behaviors elicited by these moments of anticipation. It seems that we can’t leave our body behind when we live into the near future. Our neurobiology taps us on the shoulder and suggests (often forcibly) that membership in the anticipatory decision-making body should never be restricted to rational, thoughtful, and information-based elements in our psyche.
There is much that emotional and intuitive elements in our psyche can contribute in a positive and creative manner (Lehrer, 2009). Our prefrontal cortex should never run the show. If it does, for a short period of time, then other parts of our neurological system will soon demand a hearing and divert energy away from current behavior patterns to behavior that is primarily protective (fight/flight) or non-existent (freeze). All hell breaks loose. We have created our own ship that is wallowing in an Emotional, Cognitive, and Behavioral storm. . .
So, stay tuned for our consideration of these “stormy” issues in our fourth (and final) essay.
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