Super-patterns: The ultimate tapestry of life

I’m going deeper – and this is a difficult one to put into words. For other posts tagged with ‘patterns’ go here (or not).

In this post I return to ideas on patterns. But I’m looking under patterns i.e. what if something deeper than patterns is ‘programmed’ or programmable? I’ll refer to this as super-patterns. What this means is that patterns are nested in deeper super-patterns. Therefore I speculate that programming has happened at a level much deeper than patterns. Some super-patterns are the result of programming. Oh yes – the human being can very well be programmed.

But not all super-patterns are programmed into people. That’s more complicated. I will explore lower down.

Programming

What is programming? Well, people might immediately think of ‘computers‘.  After all, computers work on sets of instructions. But this post is about the human being, which is far more complicated than any computer! People are not just given sets of instructions for life. They may be given instructions at work which they need to follow, else risk getting the sack.

I said this was deeper, so I’m not interested in superficial programming like that. Some think or know that ‘people’ are not ‘computers’ and that’s fine for them. However, the reality unbeknownst to that lot is that the human brain is a ‘computer’ of a different and superior level of sophistication. For those who believe in ‘evolution’, it took some 5 billion years to create and develop. For those who believe that God created humans, then that’s around 6000 years. So where is all this going? – the usual silly question, as people want a complex situation reduced into a few crisp low resolution sentences, that makes sense. Innit? It is a busy world and people really do not have much time to read stuff or think! To those I say, ‘Take a flying leap!’.

So – what does it all mean? This is where I’m bound to be expected to spoon-feed – and that’s not going to happen.

The Wall represents a grand-limitation on what ‘we’ can achieve. We weren’t meant to fly or swim thousands of feet below the ocean, or to travel into space, or see into other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum – but yet we found ways to do all those things. Obviously we developed means to pole-vault beyond our limitations of original design/evolution. Moving beyond our limitations of original hardwired programming is not easy – else everybody would just ‘do it’.

The final frontier is the ‘human mind’ which is not in outer-space. And how do we move our minds beyond the limitations of original designs? If you thought I had the answers and was just going to tell you, I’m gleefully going to say, “Stuff you!” Why? Because the sort of person who wants answers on a plate is just the sort of fool who is a victim of their own pattern of expectation. I never said I was here to help anybody!

Various kinds of super-patterns

Biological and physical

Let me start with ‘art’ in all its forms – howsoever you want to think of. All art created by humans is a result of the efforts of ‘flesh and blood’. I’m not debating it. And that’s a super-pattern right there! Yep – right under our noses! How? Our physical form is the result of DNA (and the like) organising matter in certain ways to create ‘us’. Within DNA are numerous patterns. But those are higher orders of patterns – which cannot be altered easily. Eh? Yes – you can’t decide to suddenly change the pattern of your DNA which creates ‘you’. Now, flesh and blood, in the human form, is limited in certain ways. Really? Yes! ‘We’ can only see seven colours in the vast electromagnetic spectrum. The unassisted human eye cannot see ultra-violet or X-rays (for example).

We in our flesh and blood are confined to thinking and operating in three dimensions. Most people, probably 99.9999%, cannot think in 4 or more dimensions (some 8 to 10 have been inferred as real, through careful mathematical exploration).  So all of ‘art’ is confined to three dimensions and limited by our super-patterns, to the various forms we appreciate.

Connecting all the above, we are ruled by a super-pattern of ‘dimensions’ which in turn has orchestrated our physical form through the ‘design’ of DNA over millions of years. And what is DNA? Some think  or reach for ‘dah internet’ – no doubt – and would start reading about double helices etc. And that’s fine for them – cuz they cannot think in the time frame of billions of years. In the evolutionary model, DNA has been shaped by zillions of events. It is a super-pattern that represents a record of our evolutionary history on a universal if not planetary scale. The super-pattern of DNA ‘decides’ our sleep-wake cycles, the very need for sleep, our breathing patterns, thinking patterns, our patterns of responses to the unknown or unexpected, our basic instincts – and much more.

Cognitive and linguistic structures:

1. Cognitive patterns: Cognitive science reveals patterns in how we think, process information, and make decisions. These patterns are shaped by our neural architecture and can be influenced by various factors, including education and experiences.
2. Linguistic relativity: The concept of linguistic relativity, or the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, posits that the language we speak influences and shapes our thought processes. Different languages can frame concepts in unique ways, suggesting that language is a super-pattern that encases cognitive processes.

Motivation and drive

Neurobiological foundations of motivation:

1. Reward system in the brain: The brain’s reward system, primarily involving the dopaminergic pathways, is crucial in motivation. This system is activated by rewarding stimuli, which can include everything from food and sex (basic biological rewards) to more complex social rewards like achievement and recognition.
2. Biological basis of pleasure and reward: The experience of pleasure and reward has a biological basis, with neurotransmitters like dopamine playing a central role. This system evolved to reinforce behaviours essential for survival and reproduction.

Psychological patterns and internal rewards:

1. Cognitive appraisal of rewards: Psychologically, how we perceive and value different rewards can vary significantly. Cognitive theories of motivation suggest that our beliefs, expectations, and attitudes towards potential rewards influence our motivation levels.
2. Intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation: This distinction highlights the difference between doing something because it is inherently rewarding (intrinsic motivation) and doing something because it leads to a separable outcome (extrinsic motivation). Both types of motivation are influenced by underlying biological mechanisms.

Social reinforcement of behaviours:

1. Social approval and recognition: Socially, behaviours that are rewarded by approval and recognition tend to be reinforced. This aspect of motivation aligns with behavioural theories, which emphasise the role of external stimuli in shaping behaviour.
2. Cultural values and achievement: Different cultures value different types of achievements, influencing the kinds of behaviours that are socially rewarded. This cultural aspect can modify or amplify the basic biological reward mechanisms.

In conclusion, the concept of a biological superpattern for reward mechanisms provides a foundational framework for understanding motivation. This framework is influenced and modulated by psychological interpretations and social reinforcements, leading to a complex interplay between our biological makeup and our environmental interactions. Understanding this interplay is crucial for both clinical applications and for comprehending the broader spectrum of human behaviour and social dynamics.

Social super-patterns

None of this should surprise anyone. I am probably just making it more obvious. One’s social sphere contains myriads of patterns woven into larger super-patterns. This is like a plush carpet woven into a thicker base. As you may have realised this requires deep abstract thought.

Socioeconomic and cultural determinants:

1. Social structures and class: Sociological theories often discuss how social structures and class status form patterns in individuals’ lives. These structures can dictate access to resources, opportunities, and even influence lifestyle choices and behaviours.
2. Economic systems and inequality: The overarching economic system and the resultant inequalities form a super-pattern that affects smaller patterns of employment, leisure, and social mobility. For example, systemic poverty creates barriers that limit the ability to alter one’s socioeconomic status.

Conclusions

Did I say that ‘everybody’ has to change their super-patterns or that everybody should attempt to do so? Did I say that I am right? No – and no! I don’t care what anybody ‘does’. I’m nobody – no authority – except over my own mind. Who else has thought of all this? I couldn’t give a monkeys!

Interdisciplinary perspectives:

1. Systems theory in psychology: This approach views individuals as part of larger systems, such as families, communities, and societies. Patterns in an individual’s life are often reflections of the larger systems they are part of.
2. Neuroscience and psychology: Studies in neuroscience and psychology have illuminated how the brain processes rewards and how this relates to motivation, both in terms of basic physiological responses and complex psychological constructs.
3. Sociobiology and evolutionary psychology: These fields explore how evolutionary processes have shaped human behaviour, including the development of social behaviours that are rewarded within a group context.
4. Implications for psychiatry: Understanding the biological basis of motivation has significant implications for psychiatry, especially in treating conditions like depression, where the reward system may be dysregulated.
5. Philosophical implications: Philosophically, this concept raises questions about determinism and free will. To what extent are our choices and behaviours predetermined by these super-patterns, and how much agency do we truly have