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In karate and martial arts self-defense, or all self-defenses for that matter, we may find that something interesting about how our brains, our minds, work contribute to things like conflict and violence along with the often contagious effects of humans in groups, group dynamics. Add in that often, socially driven violence at least, works off of a social emotionally driven monkey brain type antics where things like social/group status and ego, etc., result in fist fights and other such immature activities.
I quote, “Emotional contagion happens whenever people interact, whether in a pair, a group, or an organization. We humans have what they call a social brain, through circuitry like the mirror neuron system the person-to-person emotional contagion operates automatically, instantly, unconsciously and out of our intentional control. (I ask, could this emotional connection and contagion be how we get that, ‘Vibe,’ when things go hinkey - like a spidey sense?)
Other more knowledgable and experienced professionals will tell you that in some situations it is about emotions and how you communicate, they teach things like, “Conflict Communications,” where I would suspect this type of knowledge would go a long way toward handling such situations. I am taking a stab in the dark here because this more socially psychological aspect of human behavior is fairly new to my studies.
It would seem that the first obstacle is how those mirror neurons handle conflict when the parties involved are strangers. It makes reading those emotional cues or tells a whole lot harder leading toward misunderstandings and miscommunications leading to escalation. Is it possible by working to develop a better emotional intelligence and emotional expressive state of mind we can possible connect better with an adversary, before the fists fly, and create a connection to better communicate and deescalate?
Consider this quote, “The human brain is peppered with mirror neurons and they activate in us exactly what we see in the other person: their emotions, their movement, and their intentions. This explains why emotions are contagious. A person who is most expressive emotionally will transmit his or her emotions to the other person in two silent minutes.”
I remember a story where a professional used body language, etc., to kind of mirror an angry threat then gradually changed the body language, tone of voice, the inflection, etc. to a calmer state and actually, in this unique single instance, brought the threats emotions and mind to a calmer and more amiable state that allowed deescalation. If all this is true then this knowledge along with other strategies and tactics might provide a means to achieve deescalation through communications rather than going all physical in self-defense.
Understanding that the spread of emotions as a contagion can work both ways. I have only one personal experience with this, the story is as follows.
“In my office, a long time ago around 1977 in a cold place outside of Chicago city, two of us with a group of men we were working with to ready for a new adventure gathered to do a little celebrating. The other, my office staff associate, brought a girl friend. Going directly to the point, the egos and emotions of the men because of the contemplation and celebration of their new adventure triggered a state of mind that was getting a bit more - adventurous. The other leader, we all suddenly observed, disappeared with his girl friend. The group and I looked at one another with this knowing thought that seemed to spread among us without a word. The leader and the woman just as suddenly reappeared. I stood off and listened and watched. The girl friend was sitting with a beverage off to the other side of the office while the girls boyfriend was standing with the other group of men, talking in whispers and glancing over at the woman. Things moved fast then and the level of excitement and an even look came over the entire group. I recognized what was occurring and immediately, calmly and with an authoritative posture and attitude called out to the group, told them to stand down and then turned to the woman and told her it might be best if she went home. She looked around, suddenly felt anxious and I could see fear in her eyes. I escorted her to her car and waited till she locked herself in and drove off down the road. It averted a very dangerous situation and I suspect group dynamics escalated things until a calmer mind and attitude stepped in.”
In a nutshell after going back in to the office the guys were told by my associate that they all could get in on IT and there was a room, large empty closet, at the rear of the building. They were actually readying to strongly encourage the women to the rear for some, “FUN.”
So, as it would seem to me, such things may evolve, good and bad, from these emotional social brain mirror neuron systems causing such effects in individuals, groups and organizations. I have to wonder if this is the how and why such strategies and tactics such a verbal self-defense and conflict communications work so well, because in the actions taken we, if done properly, actually make a neural connection with the target leading to avoidance and deescalation.
It should be noted that this works and it doesn’t work because every situation be it social or asocial - monkey or predator act, the situation and parties involved are different bringing in the need to add, “Train according to your self-defense of conflicts and violence needs,” and remember that, “Conflict and Violence are huge topics full of obstacles, pathways and chaos that make them dangerously unique to every situation.” Tread lightly, get educated and trained by qualified professional experts. This article is simply to get your attention on the subject and do your own research to, “Find the right training program and instructor.”
Conflict Communications for example is a course provided by two professionals with huge background of experience few will ever experience. Rory Miller and Marc MacYoung, i.e., Conflict Communications:
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