The Role of the Computer and Impulses

The Chimpanzee Paradox model is completed with a third crucial component: the "computer".

This part of the brain acts as a memory and an automatic program machine.

Its function is to store all the information, beliefs and values that we have acquired throughout our lives, and it has the ability to take control and act automatically, without the chimpanzee or the human being aware of it.

The computer works at an astonishing speed, up to 20 times faster than the human, which allows it to execute orders with total precision before the rational mind has had a chance to think.

The Computer as an Automatic Machine

The computer has no original thought or power of interpretation, but acts based on the information that has been programmed into it.

Its automatic functioning is based on behaviors and beliefs that we have learned and that have been converted into automatic programs.

The chimpanzee and the human are responsible for programming the computer, and how well it works will depend on the usefulness and veracity of these inputs.

A well-programmed computer can execute commands with astonishing speed and accuracy, while a poorly programmed one can lead to dysfunctional behaviors and responses that are not the most appropriate in a conflict situation.

Chimpanzee Drive Management

Driven by strong instincts such as food, dominance, sex, and safety, chimpanzees can sabotage our happiness if these impulses conflict with our more rational selves.

The key to managing these impulses is not to try to control them through willpower, but to understand and manage them.

This is achieved by nurturing and rewarding the chimpanzee appropriately.

For example, instead of suppressing the impulse to seek approval, you can give it the recognition it needs by asking someone whose opinion you value or by celebrating personal achievements.

The Chimpanzee, the Human and the Computer

Chimpanzee management involves listening to its emotions, recognizing that they are fleeting, and then letting the human choose the sensible actions to take.

The computer is a key piece for this process because, when well programmed, it can automatically execute commands that help maintain control.

For example, if the computer has been programmed with the belief that empathy is a powerful tool in conflict, this response can be activated automatically, without the human having to consciously think about it.

The quality of the computer's automatic responses depends on what has been programmed into it throughout its life.

Therefore, computer maintenance is an ongoing process that allows us to unlearn dysfunctional behaviors and program new responses that help us achieve our goals more effectively.

Summary

The Chimpanzee model is completed by a third component: the "computer." This part of the brain acts as a memory and stores automatic programs.

Its operation is based on beliefs and behaviors that we have learned and that execute orders automatically. The chimpanzee and the human are responsible for programming the computer.

The key to managing the chimpanzee's impulses is to nurture and reward them. A well-programmed computer can execute orders that help maintain control, while a poorly programmed one leads to dysfunctional behaviors.