I feel like this is a really problematic position to have if you consider reactionary sentiment to be a product of biology and not society. Isn't the whole purpose of leftist analysis to break down the systems we live under and the results of said system? You have to think you yourself "what is the logical conclusion of the position I hold" what do you do about people if they supposedly have a bigoted amygdala?

[–] Hestia@hexbear.net 5 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

I don't think it's problematic at all, and this is not an argument of biology. Psychology isn't this biologically inherent thing. Trauma literally effects how your brain works. PTSD can effect the hippocampus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex.

If you are constantly being told how scary brown people are, that is going to effect how you process fear. While there are many people who are genuinely vile people and are bigoted because they stand to gain from it materially, there are many others who are victims of societal conditioning.

These people legitimately need therapy so they can learn how to properly process their fears instead of blaming minorities or the "woke" for ruining their fragile conception of reality.

[–] Gorb@hexbear.net 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

I'm still failing to see how the amygdala is related tbh. Yes they need therapy and education don't really see where brain parts come into this.

Anyway struggling to find the a study that dictates specifically a dysfunctional amygdala but I did find this https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/releases/the-amygdala-and-fear-are-not-the-same-thing.html

I'm cautious about trying to tie people's body parts to ideology, society or learned behaviours

[–] Hestia@hexbear.net 6 points 1 day ago

That article you linked is not an academic research paper. Here's a better one on the phenomenon.

https://direct.mit.edu/jocn/article/25/2/234/27886/Amygdala-Sensitivity-to-Race-Is-Not-Present-in

I brought it up because knowing how the brain works is important to addressing these things. By pointing out how certain learned behaviors can be directly tied to certain brain functions you give people a deeper understanding of themselves. When taught that their reaction to minorities is an irrational response brought about by their brain, they can learn to ignore these feelings.

I understand why you're hesitant to draw these connections though. psychology is a field of science that the Nazis heavily abused to their own genocidal ends but that does not invalidate the field in its entirety.