“There are no perfect symmetries, there is no pure randomness, we are in the gray region between truth and chaos. Nothing novel or interesting happens unless it is on the border between order and chaos. ~
I beg to differ. The definition of “novel or interesting” is as subjective as whether a cornbread recipe requires sugar. (For me, it does not. Full stop.) But seriously, not all of us require even a smidgen of chaos, and many consistently prefer order. Why do we differ that way?
Once again, wiring
To learn more about differences in human approaches, I accessed an article by the University of California. Sadly, I understood so little of that piece that I had to resort to even more sources for clarification. You’ll need the following definitions to facilitate your understanding. Oversimplified, of course.
- Brain protein gephyrin is “anchoring protein” that assures effective organization and communication between neurons. (Science Direct)
- The basolateral amygdala is the part of the brain responsible for conditioned responses, especially with respect to fear, memories, and stress. They are, of course, all related. (Science Direct)
- The orbitofrontal cortex is the part of your brain that sits above your eyebrows and assists in making decisions based on reward vs punishment. (Kenhub)
I freely admit that I may be misinterpreting the study of rats and their journey of finding–or waiting on–reward. Here’s what I think it boils down to. We all begin life with physiological differences, and our brain function can change based on experiences and subsequent changes in the level of the anchoring protein. That’s all you’re going to get out of me on that. Yikes!
Who are these souls desiring routine?
Well, now it’s getting interesting. And understandable. This part is more of an observation, rather than science, but apparently a large percentage of the population thinks like I do, enjoying routine and dreading the unexpected. According to Talkspace, this is especially true for Highly Sensitive People (HSP), who are keenly aware of sensations, whether they are taste, touch, or whatever. They are also hyper-sensitive to their emotions and those of others. Additionally, they process all kinds of information more thoroughly than the average human, and may become “overwhelmed by stimuli”. HSP comprise one in five of the total population, so you are probably acquainted with a few who fit into that category.
I’d put this into good-to-know category because understanding others’ behavior can be useful. If you “get” where someone is coming from physiologically, it explains a lot. Like a possible declination to participate in an outing when you know for a fact the invitee has no prior commitments. Consider, too, that up to 70% of HSPs are also introverts (per Psychology Today). It doesn’t take a mental giant to recognize that the combination of “I’m exhausted by social interactions” and “I get overwhelmed by sights, sounds, my own drama, and everyone else’s” keeps routine as a high priority for those individuals.
What does all that have to do with symmetry?
While symmetry is not the same as order, the two are related. I found references in multiple sources; here are just two of them.
An article published by Big Think describes a meeting of specialists in various fields such as math, music, logic, and philosophy. They gathered to discuss the role of symmetry in their disciplines. As it happens, symmetry does factor in all of them, as it does in nature. It’s inescapable. But isn’t randomness, as well? Yes, but here’s a quote on that, “… chaos is, in fact, randomness existing within a framework of order.” That is, there’s a balance between order and disorder. A symmetry.
Why do most of us prefer it? Symmetry, that is. The short answer, based on my reading of an article in How Stuff Works, is that symmetry is what we expect to see, and asymmetry is often a sign that something is wrong. It could even be a sign of “illness or danger in the natural world.”
And?
As explained above, we don’t all enjoy the same level of expertise in creating balance out of chaos. Some people are experts at intentionally eschewing calm and relishing bedlam. Others of us find the symmetry of routine infinitely more pleasant than any alternative.
I already knew that capabilities vary. What I didn’t know was that the differences extend to tolerance for a lack of balance (asymmetry). Or that the discomfort I feel when confronted with disorder may be physiological. My need for organization (symmetry) could be a coping mechanism.
Perhaps we all appreciate symmetry; we just don’t all see it the same way. Where I see turmoil, many see potential, or at least a challenge.
Enough of that for now. I need balance. And I need to know why, if there’s a Northern Harrier, there isn’t a corresponding Southern Harrier. So, those of you who have the superpower of seeing chaos as order – can you explain that for me?
Loved seeing you today. I will miss the symmetry of the Authors Guild meetings and the library but luike the idea we could get together for lunch sometime. 🙂 Laura
Yes, it was a fun lunch and great to see you, too. I will definitely stay in touch and we’ll find a time for lunch in the next few months. Perhaps Maryville in lieu of Knoxville?