A Research Paper created by Yatin Samant
(Executive Coach, INDIA)
Introduction
We human beings, in most of our transactions seem to be operating at two levels: Rational (Head)& Emotional (Heart)levels. Various ways these two aspects to decision making are described as:
Head Way:
Thinking rationally, evaluating and choosing what you logically think is correct (Left brain activity)
Heart Way:
No rigid preset parameters , using more feeling , liking , emotion in choice , taking a call on what you feel is good for you ( Right brain activity ) For the purpose of this paper we‘d use terminology of Head & Heart aspects.
Two general misconceptions that we grow up with:
(i) Most of our adulthood upbringing , especially our schooling system ; is designed to train us to operate from the ‗ left brain ‗— through logic , scientific experiments , arguments , hypothesis validation etc. almost to the exclusion of using right side of our brain which prompts sensing , feeling , visualizing .
(ii) Creation of stereotypes: We are conditioned to a compartmentalized view — to believe that it‘s ‗either or ‗option between the two aspects and as if there is a conflict between them We are made to believe that there exists a male stereotype (rational or left brain person) as different from a female stereotype (emotional or right brain person). In a way you are either a ‗left brain ‗person or a ‗right brain ‗; ruling out scope for one to straddle both ends.
Reality is quite different. Life has many colours, many levels. Life does not compel us to choose between Head (thinking) and Heart (feeling).
Similarly on an individual level, none of us is completely devoid (0%) of either Head or Heart — each of us has some mix of both tendencies; though it is possible that there may be one style which dominates in an individual most of the time.
Ancient Indian scriptures have a good way to get out of these stereotypes. It puts forth a concept of ‗Ardhnarinateshwar‗ ( half each of a male & a female ) It says that each person has two parts , one which represents a male & the other a female – that is what makes life complete .
While stereotyping is risky it is possible that an individual may have one of the two (Head, Heart) as his / her dominant or default style, as:
Thinkers
Decide based primarily on logic, and when they do so, they tend to see the world in black and white and dislike fuzziness. We are brought up with a feeling that it‘s ‗weak‘ to be emotional. For example, men often feel apprehensive of emotions because we are conditioned to believe that men do not cry.
Feelers
Decide based primarily through social considerations, listening to their heart and considering the feelings of others. They see life as a human existence with material things being subservient to it. They value harmony and use tact in their interactions with others.
