Stimulate Your Mind

How are control theory and human behavior related? In control theory, the goal is to provide feedback loop mechanism that will efficiently control a process by removing oscillations and reaching a stable system. This is typically demonstrated and measured with a step response which contains a transient overcompensation or overshoot in the signal,  red response  (Fig 1). Fig 1. Step response of human behavior. This response, action and reaction (feedback loop), is seen in human behavior. Similar to control theory we have to adjust our parameters to keep our human social system, stable. When oppression is baseline for a long time, people will be born into an unjust system. Eventually a trigger (at time = 0) will cause a response wherein initially the result will be the other end of oppression because of over corrective measures (overshoot).  The tables are flipped during this transient response stage.  The oppressed become the oppressors. B...

How much time do we spend reflecting on our actions and thoughts? A few hours a day? A few hours a week? A few hours a month? A few hours a year? Never? If we are not making time to reflect then we to need to hit the pause button and reevaluate our state of mind and heart. We need to realign the wheels of our hearts to ensure that we are staying on the right track. In particular, how often is mercy a factor in our thoughts and actions? If the answer is not always, then we need to spend more time in self-reflection. Mercy is defined as compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm. Lacking in self-reflection results in a lack of mercy. Unfortunately, many people, young and old, are missing this component from their daily routine. The loss of this reflection leads to a misguided state of mind and ultimately affects behavior. This state/behavior is typically seen in adolescents, specifically, bullies. We nor...