13854 Vanbasco brain: the deviation of the mind or the norm?

Vanbasco brain: the deviation of the mind or the norm?



Xbox One doesn’t hold a candle to PlayStation 4“. “Battlefield is killing Call of Duty“. “Apple is a hundred times better than buggy junk on Android“. “Hideo kojima is a genius, not a poser“. Don’t you agree? Yes, you just don’t get it! The fanboya — a man ready to lay down your life (and especially someone else’s) for a hobby of your own is easily recognizable by maniacal comments on forums and social networks. Some people make the mistake of engaging in a discussion with him, others get the snub, showering him with ridicule. But we will try to look at the topic in a detached way — through the eyes of practicing psychologists.

Our experts:

Александр ЧермяниновAlexander Chermyaninov — psychotherapist, clinical psychologist, senior educational telegrams channels @psycholetters and @booksfromouterspace. Алексей КарачинскийAlex Karachinsky — psychotherapist, psychologist, member of the Ukrainian Union of Psychotherapists, social activist, author of online course “Fundamentals of critical thinking” and a number of scientific publications, leading educational telegrams channels @PsyEducation, @ThinkCritical, @dianalysis.

The discreet charm of consumerism

Fanboi… What drives these strange creatures, full of adoration and puppy dog devotion? They are willing to stay overnight at the store to date on the long-awaited gadget to get him first. They cringe before brands and cover the body with tattoos PlayStation, Apple and Xbox. They buy all versions of your favorite games for different platforms and, of course, vehemently defend the object of his passion at the slightest of criticism on the Internet, accusing opponents of being biased. This sectarianism? A zombie? Mental disorder? It is clear that no sane person is so strongly tied to devices, franchises and communities… Or can they?

Фанбойство головного мозга

In 1955, the American psychologist Jack Brehm conducted an experiment in the equipment store. He demonstrated to potential buyers eight appliances (toaster, grill, table lamp, etc.) and were asked to evaluate the offered goods according to the degree of attractiveness. After setting the ratings participants received for free one of the devices. But were allowed to choose only two items, which the subject himself considered equally attractive. Once a person has decided on the gift, the device is Packed and handed to him. A few minutes later, Bram asked the subject to re-assess the same eight products. What is the result? Each of the 255 participants with more sympathy, spoke about the selected household appliance and less of the rejected.

“Our brain automatically starts to cheat: distort memories and new ways to interpret information”

“The thing that a person buys or receives in constant use, becomes like a part of him. Conducted various studies of the phenomenon of “extended I”. It was found, for example, that if the person bought the item in his characteristic patterns of brain activity be played. At the level of thinking is manifested in the fact that he is now this thing more value. Or much better begin to understand it, to emphasize the advantages and ignore the disadvantages”, — Alexander Chermyaninov.

Фанбойство головного мозга

What was Jack Brehm? It is human nature to unconsciously justify the choice. Once the decision is made, we tend to focus on his positive aspects and try to downplay the attractive part of the rejected alternatives. For this, our brain automatically starts to cheat: distort memories, filtering and reinterpretation of information. How does the mechanism of self-deception?

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Mind games

Imagine that you take a decision let it be, for example, buying a new console. At stake is more than one hundred dollars, not to mention spending on the disks, so the decision will be for you is extremely important. You are torn to pieces: choose the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One Pro X? Each option has strengths and weaknesses. PS4 Pro, of course, will be cheaper for her produce great exclusives like God of War 4 and the Last of Us II, and optimization projects on top. On the other hand, Xbox One X is the most powerful offer in the market. And multiplatform blockbusters will be on the “box” look spectacular. Plus compatibility with the library hits the Xbox 360. In short, prior to purchase you are acting quite rationally (read the analystasking the opinions of friends) and I can’t say that one of the options on the head better than the other. But suppose you decided to stay at the brainchild of Sony. What happens next?

Фанбойство головного мозга

Your behavior and thoughts will begin to change, becoming irrational. “PlayStation 4 Pro? Best offer on the market! I knew about this before the purchase and now, having caught the beloved black box has reinforced my opinion even more! Xbox One? How stupid do you have to be to take crap from Microsoft?!” Most likely, you will spend much more time on the forums and Sony fans will buy a t-shirt with Kratos. It is possible that will start talking about Boost mode, “chess” and rendering PS-exclusives like there’s nothing more important. Welcome to the fan club soniboev! But why did the reassessment of the attractiveness of the two consoles?

“The example with the PS4 Pro, as well as the phenomenon fanatstva, explains one of the cognitive distortion”

When we have important choices, we are often torn between two equally preferred alternatives. And, as a result, are experiencing cognitive dissonance — mental discomfort. This happens because the selected option is seldom entirely positive and the rejected — completely negative. And to get rid of the discomfort, the brain uses a variety of cognitive distortionsthat justify the decision.

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“Cognitive distortions are systematic errors that makes our thinking. The logic is as follows: evolutionary man learned to think, perhaps not always accurately but quickly. And since our ability to process information is limited, the mind automatically tries to choose such strategies that simplify complex problems and maintain a positive view of himself. Pro example with the PS4, as well as the phenomenon fanatstva, also explains one of the cognitive biases — the tendency to confirm your selection”, — Alexander Chermyaninov.

“Splurged on a fancy PC — so, how to do a post on the forums about what “Pitch rules”?”

A trip to the store for expensive machinery itself able a lot to shake up the skull of the buyer, but it is finally on the slippery slope fanboystva we are pushing for more investment in the subject of interest: time or money. Or, in the words of economic theory, sunk costs. This is when you have acquired the thing, and then spent five times more banknotes to maintain it in working condition. The logic is simple: have spent 500 hours on World of Warcraft and it already seems like a pity to throw adventure in Azeroth. Spent money on a fancy PC — well then after a year or two to do without the upgrade and posts on the forums about that “Peck’s taxis“? Got a collection of games in the AppStore — have the motivation to continue to use the Apple gadgets. Is it possible for such deals to protect their own investments in the eyes of others?

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Фанбойство головного мозга

“The more we invest time or money in something, the more valuable it is for us. This is a universal mechanism of attachment. But the losses we suffer much heavier than rejoice acquisitions. To lose values or beliefs — it is very traumatic. Have I got my beliefs, which are also a part of me. And when there is a threat to my beliefs, the body perceives it as a threat of death, and immediately there is hostility. At a deep level, the threat to my beliefs is a threat to my death. That’s why fanboi passionately defend their views”, — Alexey Karachinsky.

 

We or they

Aristotle argued that man is a social animal. We want to communicate with those who share our values and interests — so there are fan community. But what kind of power makes people divided into warring camps? Why “pitch-boyars” humiliated “console slaves”? Why every E3 provokes a new round fanboism vendetta “PS vs Xbox”?

“When a brand is advertised, promoted not just a product, but a quality or idea. If you look at advertising some Adidas, advertised independence and freedom. And in the marketing of brands is frequently used psychological Manichaeism: the division into good and evil. So embedded is evolutionary, that people think in terms of: is “my” group is “other” with whom to fight or to win. And our brand better,” Alexander Chermyaninov.

Фанбойство головного мозга

The division into “us” and “them” (followed fierce defending of positions) can occur for a trifling reason. In the famous experiment, the British psychologist Henry Tajfel adolescents showed paintings of two artists. Guys were divided into two camps — supporters of Kandinsky and the adherents of clay, and each has received the appropriate icon. It would seem that could change this sort? A lot.

“That’s why Xbox fans ridicule the adherents of Sony and PC owners — the consolers”

The subjects began to show sympathy for those who wear a pin like that, as if it was about best friends or close relatives. They assessed the participants of the camp as people with a more pleasant personality. And — most surprising — when the conditional distribution of the money sought to bestow “their” and deprive “them.” But before the experiment, the Teens were not familiar with each other and the proposed canvas saw for the first time in my life! More than that: even when in another experiment, the separation into two groups was performed by coin toss, the eagles and tails acted like young lovers of Klee and Kandinsky.

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Henry Tajfel hypothesized that people tend to construct ideas about themselves based on membership to different groups (and this hypothesis has been repeatedly confirmed subsequently by other scientists). When you are part of some kind of community, you seek to maintain its positive image. And since the person tends to consider their group the best in everything, naturally, for contrast, must “be appointed” and nizkodohodnye group. That’s why Xbox fans ridicule the adherents of Sony and the owners of the PC — console gamers.

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“…I just conventional van, nothing great in me and suddenly I become a part of something bigger”

“When there is no normal levels of self-esteem, it is enhanced by the ownership group. It’s one thing when I just conventional van, nothing great to me. And suddenly I become a part of something bigger. So we cheer for the athletes that represent our country. We didn’t do anything, not trained, has not devoted his life to the sport. Watched the stream, our idol won at the Olympics, we were rooting for him. Is belief in mind: if he won, he’s part of our country, I am part of our country, then it’s my victory. So the person has a desire to be a part of something bigger. If I like to play World of Warcraft for orcs, when watching the movie “Warcraft” I’m going to sympathize with the orcs and to see them as much good” — Alexey Karachinsky.

 

Norm or deviation?

If the passion for passion for something rooted in the nature of Homo sapiens, how to distinguish between normal hobby and pathology? On the one hand, fanboys provokes people to intolerance of someone else’s point of view, the persecution of dissidents and aggression. In extreme cases it can lead to murder, as happened in February 2017 with two Russian programmers, arguing about the quality of AMD and NVIDIA. On the other hand, rests on fanboy popular culture: who else will spend time on the scrupulous filling in wiki pages, drawing arts, creating parody commercials, new levels and mods?

Фанбойство головного мозга

“The norm in psychiatry is determined by two criteria. First, how he evaluates your health. Second, how it interferes with others, and complain if close at his strange behavior. When two criteria are favorable. If the person is 20 years old is a fan of one thing, collect the paraphernalia, attending themed events, but great deals in circle of friends and colleagues, about any pathology speech can not be. But if he, for example, goes to work, deteriorating health and communication with your family — it is the bells to ask for help”, — Alexander Chermyaninov.

“The first step to getting rid of excessive attachment to brands and gadgets — awareness”

“Any relationship in that moment, when it is impossible to live without it, is the deviation. The dependence of the person from the game, from the brand. The question still is, how much time a person devotes to fanboys: if the hobby does not interfere with work and socialization — no problem. But ideally all dependencies should be abandoned — for the sake of self-sufficiency and mental health” — Alexey Karachinsky.

Фанбойство головного мозга

The first step to getting rid of excessive attachment to brands, gadgets, and franchises — awareness. When once again the hand involuntarily reaches for the keyboard to bring down the opponents with a flurry fanboism noise and fury — slow down. Realize that you are driven by irrational motives, described by Jack Brehm and Henry Tajfel. But the opposite side has the same motives. In this absurd battle of consumerism and fanaticism no one can take over. In fact, as told to Tyler Durden, “you are not your console or Steam account“.

 

The author of the text: Vladimir Saldan

Source: 4pda.ru

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