Blog post image

Concepts, Attributes and States

  • Published: 07-28-2015 Edited: 07-30-2015
  • This article will be about a creating a technical definition of context or state-dependent personality traits. We will start with concept definitions, then move on to attribute definitions, then finally state definitions. All states will have a semantical description and four questions each for use in self-report. Concepts, attributes and states are also created to provide a language for describing mental properties. All concepts, attributes and states should be neutral in value, there is no good and bad because that depends on context and subjective opinion.

    Genetics and meta-concepts

    We base most of our model on formal models in neurology which is based on empirical research linking genes in the dopaminergic and the serotonergic system to cognitive and neurological individual differences resulting in differences in personality. Some traits are based on self-report and have not yet been linked to genes or neurochemistry explicitly.

    Genetic attributes

    We are building on to the conclusions about attributes affecting the dopaminergic system from our previous post:

    • COMT Val158Met polymorphism affect prefrontal endogenous dopamine, striatal dopamine releases and traits like: reward-sensitivity, sustained attention, proactive and reactive cognitive control, temporal discounting, delayed discounting, impulsivity, tasks switching-costs, cognitive stability and cognitive flexibility.
    • DRD2 genes affect striatal dopamine receptor density which affect PFC-amygdala activity and traits like: neuroticism, impulsivity, introversion and extraversion.
    • DAT genes interact with COMT Val158Met polymorphisms in influencing connectivity, at different states, and influence cognitive activation and cognitive inactivation.
    • Other unspecified possible causes for individual differences in connectivity that are yet to be mapped.

    Meta-concepts

    Meta-concepts are concepts required for understanding other concepts.

    Awareness

    Awareness is about whether something is experienced consciously or not.

    • Explicit (L) - Consciously aware process.
    • Implicit (I) - Consciously unaware process.

    All people experience a continuous explicit process when awake. Implicit processes are always active though they are impossible to verbalise since they are outside of consciousness.

    Attributes

    The following attributes are defined as they are experienced or manifested as explicit processes. First we define the attribute dichotomies that we will need later to define states.

    Conflict

    Conflict is the ratio of feedback versus feed-forward mechanisms before behaviour is initiated.

    • Evaluative (V) - Cautious, reflective, granular, delicate, careful, suggestive fear for unexpected stimuli.
      • Caused by high striatal dopamine D2 receptors causing an increased PFC-amygdala activity in response to new stimuli - Behaviour Inhibition System (BIS) activates for new stimuli creating anxiety. This also creates a longer duration of time before anything new is approached and thus enables longer time of evaluation before approach behaviour is initiated. This in-turn creates a more reflective and careful character.
    • Explorative (X) - Reflexive, confident, broad, exploring, daring, suggestive fearless for unexpected stimuli.
      • Caused by low striatal dopamine D2 receptors causing low PFC-amygdala activity in response to new stimuli compared to Evaluative types. A stronger Behaviour Approach System (BAS) response resulting in less time of reflection and evaluation before exploring new stimuli. This creates a more reflexive and daring character.

    Evaluative types are most comfortable using a evaluative behaviour and explorative types are most comfortable using a explorative behaviour.

    Association

    Association-dichotomy is about how memory is used to contextualise information.

    • Abstract (A) - Loosely related to sensory perception. Related to concepts, metaphors, analogies, cross-contextual meanings, indirect experience, prototypes, concepts about concepts, meta-concepts, categorical, generalised, abstract.
      • Caused by connectivity to frontopolar cortex (FPC) / anterior prefrontal cortex (aPFC) networks which is in turn caused by unknown source but is probably genetic.Information is understood by how it relates to general truths, categories, contexts, concepts, analogies, prototypes, metaphors and other associations. A type of rationalised epistemology.
    • Concrete (C) - Closely related to sensory perception, sensory semantics, direct experience, empirical, concrete, contextually relevant, situationally relevant.
      • Caused by connectivity to parietal networks and thalamus which is in turn caused by unknown source but is probably genetic.Information is understood by relating it to sensory-semantics wanting to rely on experience rather than concepts or theories. Meaning is derived from experience / empiricism but does not necessary rely on rules on logic so it’s no positivistic epistemology, but rather empirical or experimental epistemology.

    Association is related to memory-awareness. All types use both associations every day but Abstract types prefer Abstract-states and Concrete types prefer Concrete-states.

    Encoding

    Encoding is about how information is structured and understood, what ways of understanding is useful and what is not.

    • Organic (O) - Related to experience, phenomenal quality, social, emotional, holistic, “quality of the whole”, qualitative, empathising, synthetic reasoning, “folk-psychology”, cognitive and affective empathy.
      • Caused by connectivity to different parts of the extended default mode network, default mode network, task-negative network, mentalizing network. Key node is medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC).The connectivity is dependent on state and is in turn probably caused by genetics influencing connectivity at different cognitive states.
    • Mechanic (M) - Mono-semantic sequential, procedural, technical, logical, mechanistic, analytic, systemising, atomic analysis, isolated analysis, reductionistic, quantitative, “folk-physics”, driven by rules or laws or theories which govern the reasoning, created by simulated physical / motor mechanisms.
      • Caused by connectivity to task-positive network (TPN) or mirror-neuron network.The connectivity is dependent on state and is in turn probably caused by genetics influencing connectivity at different cognitive states.Part of the positivistic epistemology but does not necessary involve empiricism.

    All types use both encodings every day. Organic-types prefer Organic-encodings and Mechanic types prefer Mechanic encoding.

    Control

    Control is about how information and processes are allowed to change.

    • Execution (E) - High use of working memory, top-down attention, selective attention, sustained attention, executive control, temporal, proactive cognitive control, interference resistance, visual-fixation, driven by tonic striatal dopamine releases, prefrontal control of attention and arousal, what engages / activates and creates a proactive behaviour.
      • Caused by connectivity to dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) with other areas caused by endogenous dopamine density in prefrontal cortex where medium is strongest execution. Proactive oscillations originating from prefrontal cortex governing synchronisation of brain areas highly influenced by top-down modulation of attention.
    • Processing (P) - Low use of working memory, salient-driven attention, stimuli-driven attention, bottom-up attention, reactive cognitive control, real-time, anticipatory saccades, driven by striatal phasic dopamine releases, striatal control of attention and arousal, what disengages / inactivates and creates a reactive behaviour.
      • Caused by connectivity to striatum dopamine releases governed by low or high level of prefrontal dopamine and incentive salience or incentive stimuli. Reactive oscillations originating from prefrontal cortex governing synchronisation of brain areas highly influenced by bottom-up modulation of attention.

    Executors prefer Execution, Adaptors have no preference, Processors prefer Processing. All types use both states every day. Executors need more time to prepare for changing task than Processors because they have a more stable Execution than Processors. Processors have higher cognitive flexibility but lower cognitive stability and vice versa for Executors. There seems to be individual differences in when people get activated or engaged and when they get inactivated or disengaged and the cause of this is probably in DAT-genes.

    Energy

    Energy is about motivation and energy.

    • Cognitive (G) - Experiencing flow, refreshing, increase in energy or motivation, possibly an increase in serotonin as a neurological reward for modus operandi.
      • Probably caused by increase in phasic dopamine release in striatum and also probably a serotonin increase.
    • Affective (F) - Experiencing stress, fatigue, anxiety, aggression, decrease in energy or motivation, possibly an decrease in serotonin as a neurological punishment for modus operandi.
      • Probably caused by decrease of phasic dopamine release in the striatum and probably a serotonin decrease.

    All healthy people strive for a behaviour which maximises flow and technically stabilises serotonin at a high level. Different genes affect what kind of cognition is effortful and what is effortless. All types experience both energy-states every day.

    States

    By combining at least two attributes from different dichotomies we can create cognitive states which are theoretical network connections in a given moment. The association between trait and neurobiology will be speculative but an statistical significant result distribution will be valuable nonetheless and the hope is that the result will be finding meaningful individual differences. The following states are defined as they are experienced or manifested as explicit processes.

    For each state we will create self-reporting questions and semantics.

    Encoding-control

    Encoding-control is states created by combining an encoding-attribute (organic, mechanic) with an control-attribute (execution, processing).

    Organic Execution (OE)

    A social / holistic analysis is combined with a proactive, goal-directed strategy to initiate change or sustain social action towards a goal.

    Self-reporting questions:

    • When I notice that the atmosphere or culture in my group is bad, I tend to get engaged or activated.
    • When I notice that someone experience negative feelings, I tend to try to proactively make them feel better.
    • When I find disharmony in my group, I tend to proactively influence the group in a good direction.
    • When I notice a bad influence on my group, I tend to try to proactively work it out.

    Organic Processing (OP)

    A social / holistic analysis is combined with a reactive, stimuli-driven strategy to understand the environment or determine the current social state.

    Self-reporting questions:

    • When I notice that the atmosphere or culture in my group is bad, I tend to get disengaged or reactive.
    • When I notice that someone else experience negative feelings, I tend to get receptive or passive.
    • When I find disharmony in a group, I tend to get open-minded or objective.
    • When I notice a bad influence on my group, I tend to get disengaged or reactive.

    Mechanic Execution (ME)

    A quantitative / analytic analysis is combined with a proactive, goal-directed strategy to initiate change or sustain procedural action towards a goal.

    Self-reporting questions:

    • When I find systemic errors, I tend to get engaged or activated.
    • When I find inefficiencies in procedures, I tend to try to proactively improve them.
    • When I find unproductive routines, I tend to get engaged or activated.
    • When I find disorganised environments, I tend to try to proactively organise them.

    Mechanic Processing (MP)

    A quantitative / analytic analysis is combined with a reactive, stimuli-driven strategy to understand the environment or determine the current technical state.

    Self-reporting questions:

    • When I find systemic errors, I tend to get disengaged or indifferent.
    • When I find inefficiencies in procedures, I tend to get receptive or passive.
    • When I find unproductive routines, I tend to get open-minded or objective.
    • When I find disorganised environments, I tend to get disengaged or reactive.

    Association-control

    Association-control is states created by combining an association-attribute (abstract, concrete) with an control-attribute (execution, processing).

    Concrete Execution (CE)

    A empirical / experiential association is combined with a proactive, goal-directed strategy to initiate change or sustain action towards a goal.

    Self-reporting questions:

    • When I am doing goal-directed activities, I tend to be aware of similar previous experiences to follow.
    • When I am doing goal-directed work, I tend to be aware of it’s specific and detailed properties.
    • When I am working towards a goal, I tend to be aware of how I associate that process with my previous experience.
    • When I am working towards a goal, I tend to be aware about how it relates to my experience.

    Concrete Processing (CP)

    A empirical / experiential association is combined with a reactive, stimuli-driven strategy to understand the environment or determine the current state.

    Self-reporting questions:

    • When I hear about a new idea, I tend to be aware of specific experiences I relate it to.
    • When something unexpected happens, I tend to be aware of specific memories I relate it to.
    • When something unexpected happens, I tend to be aware of how I have experienced similar things before.
    • When I hear about a new idea, I tend to be aware of experiences with similar ideas and how it worked out.

    Abstract Execution (AE)

    A rationalistic / conceptual association is combined with a proactive, goal-directed strategy to initiate change or sustain action towards a goal.

    Self-reporting questions:

    • When I am doing goal-directed activities, I tend to be aware of general guidelines to follow.
    • When I am doing goal-directed work, I tend to be aware of it’s general properties.
    • When I am working towards a goal, I tend to be aware of how I associate that process with other things.
    • When I am working towards a goal, I tend to be aware about how it relates to other goals.

    Abstract Processing (AP)

    A rationalistic / conceptual association is combined with a reactive, stimuli-driven strategy to understand the environment or determine the current state.

    Self-reporting questions:

    • When I hear about a new idea, I tend to be aware of how it relates to other ideas.
    • When something unexpected happens, I tend to be aware of it’s general properties.
    • When something unexpected happens, I tend to be aware of how I associate it with other things.
    • When I hear about a new idea, I tend to be aware of how I associate it with other things.

    Energy-control

    Encoding-control is states created by combining an energy-attribute (cognitive, affective) with an control-attribute (execution, processing).

    Cognitive Execution (GE)

    A increase in energy, motivation or flow when focusing on goals, sustained actions and avoiding interruptions. Related to COMT Val158Met genotypes Val/Met and Met/Met.

    Self-reporting questions:

    • When I must remain set on a decision, I tend to get motivated.
    • When I must focus on a set plan or goal, I tend to get into a state of flow.
    • When I have to convince others to support my decisions, I tend to get excited.
    • When I must focus on how to implement a set decision, I tend to remain motivated.

    Cognitive Processing (GP)

    A increase in energy, motivation or flow when switching task, goal, context and exploring new information. Related to the COMT Val158Met genotypes Val/Val and Val/Met.

    Self-reporting questions:

    • When I haven’t set expectation on what will happen in different activities, I tend to get motivated.
    • When I must be able to do spontaneous improvising in different environments, I tend to get into a state of flow.
    • When I must change task on short notice, I tend to get motivated.
    • When I have to work without a set goal or decision, I tend to get into a state of flow.

    Affective Execution (FE)

    A decrease in energy, motivation or flow when focusing on goals, sustained actions and avoiding interruptions. Related to COMT Val158Met genotypes Val/Met and Val/Val.

    Self-reporting questions:

    • When I must remain set on a decision, I tend to lose motivation.
    • When I must focus on a set plan or goal, I tend to struggle to make decisions.
    • When I have to convince others to support my decisions, I tend to become indifferent.
    • When I must focus on how to implement a set decision, I tend to lose energy.

    Affective Processing (FP)

    A decrease in energy, motivation or flow when switching task, goal, context and exploring new information. Related to the COMT Val158Met Met/Met and Val/Met.

    Self-reporting questions:

    • When I must switch goal without much time for preparation, I tend to feel drained.
    • When I must change task on short notice, I tend to get fatigued.
    • When I must be able to change and adjust decisions, I tend to struggle to make decisions.
    • When I have to work without a set goal or decision, I tend to lose energy.

    Association-encoding

    Association-encoding is states created by combining an association-attribute (abstract, concrete) with an encoding-attribute (organic, mechanic).

    Abstract Mechanic (AM)

    A combination of conceptual, categorical, analogous, metaphorical, generalised and logical, analytical, reductionistic, quantitative reasoning.

    Self-reporting questions:

    • When I’m dealing with systems or procedures, I tend to search for the ideas they are based on.
    • When I’m interacting with a tool or an machine, I tend to look for the intentions behind the different parts.
    • When I’m discussing formal ideas or rules, I tend to be aware of how they would manifest in reality.
    • When I’m discussing formal laws or procedures, I tend to be aware of how they would work in reality.

    Abstract Organic (AO)

    A combination of conceptual, categorical, analogous, metaphorical, generalised and social, holistic, synthetic reasoning. Intepretivistic or anti-positivistic epistemology.

    Self-reporting questions:

    • When I discuss fictional characters or narratives, I tend to be aware of how they would manifest in reality.
    • When I discuss ethical or philosophical ideas, I tend to be aware of how they would affect people.
    • When I debate other people, I tend to be aware of the ideas or philosophies they base their argumentation on.
    • When I consume art, music or writing, I tend to be aware of the general ideas behind it’s expression.

    Concrete Mechanic (CM)

    A combination of empirical, experimental analysis and logical, analytical, reductionistic, quantitative reasoning. Positivistic epistemology.

    Self-reporting questions:

    • When I’m dealing with systems or procedures, I tend to search for the way I used them last time.
    • When I’m interacting with a tool or an machine, I tend to try remembering my previous experience with the different parts.
    • When I’m discussing formal ideas or rules, I tend to be aware of specific previous experiences I relate them to.
    • When I’m discussing formal laws or procedures, I tend to be aware of my previous experiences with them.

    Concrete Organic (CO)

    A combination of empirical, experiential analysis and social, holistic, synthetic reasoning.

    Self-reporting questions:

    • When I discuss fictional characters or narratives, I tend to try to understand the specific details about them.
    • When I discuss ethical or philosophical ideas, I tend to be aware of related previous experiences with them.
    • When I debate other people, I tend to be aware of the opponents specific arguments.
    • When I consume art, music or writing, I tend to be aware of the detailed experience I get.

    Association-energy

    Association-energy is states created by combining an association-attribute (abstract, concrete) with an energy-attribute (cognitive, affective).

    Abstract Cognitive (AG)

    A combination of increased energy, motivation or flow and conceptual, categorical, analogous, metaphorical, generalised analysis.

    Self-reporting questions:

    • When I have to deal with complex or speculative information, I tend to get motivated.
    • When I have to find in what way information is similar to other information, I tend get excited.
    • When I have to find associations between information, I tend to get motivated.
    • When I have to find general patterns in information, I tend to get excited.

    Abstract Affective (AF)

    A combination of decreased energy, motivation or flow and conceptual, categorical, analogous, metaphorical, generalised analysis.

    Self-reporting questions:

    • When I have to deal with complex or speculative information, I tend to get indifferent.
    • When I have to find in what way information is similar to other information, I tend get fatigued.
    • When I have to find associations between information, I tend to lose motivation.
    • When I have to find general patterns in information, I tend to get indifferent.

    Concrete Cognitive (CG)

    A combination of increase in energy, motivation or flow when dealing using empirical, experimental analysis.

    Self-reporting questions:

    • When I have to deal with certain or empirically proven information, I tend to get motivated.
    • When I have to understand how things were done previously, I tend get excited.
    • When I have to find what information is identical to other information, I tend to get motivated.
    • When I have to look for specific details in information, I tend to get excited.

    Concrete Affective (CF)

    A combination of decrease in energy, motivation or flow when dealing using empirical, experimental analysis.

    Self-reporting questions:

    • When I have to deal with certain or empirically proven information, I tend to get fatigued.
    • When I have to understand how things were done previously, I tend to lose motivation.
    • When I have to find what information is identical to other information, I tend to get indifferent.
    • When I have to look for specific details in information, I tend to lose motivation.

    Encoding-energy

    Mechanic Cognitive (MG)

    A combination of quantitative, analytic analysis is combined with an increase in motivation, flow or energy.

    Self-reporting questions:

    • When I try identifying the single isolated cause of something, I tend to get excited.
    • When I learn about how isolated parts of a system works, I tend to get motivated.
    • When I understand the workings of different parts of a system, I tend to get into a state of flow.
    • When I learn about how to properly use a tool, I tend to get excited.

    Mechanic Affective (MF)

    A combination of quantitative, analytic analysis is combined with an decrease in motivation, flow or energy.

    Self-reporting questions:

    • When I try identifying the single isolated cause of something, I tend to lose motivation.
    • When I learn about how isolated parts of a system works, I tend to get indifferent.
    • When I understand the workings of different parts of a system, I tend to get fatigued.
    • When I learn about how to properly use a tool, I tend to get indifferent.

    Organic Cognitive (OG)

    A combination of qualitative, holistic analysis is combined with an increase in motivation, flow or energy.

    Self-reporting questions:

    • When I try identifying the holistic patterns of something, I tend to get excited.
    • When I learn about how different factors sometimes influence a process, I tend to get motivated.
    • When I try to get the picture of all agents working together, I tend to get into a state of flow.
    • When I learn about how ideas and philosophies influence people, I tend to get excited.

    Organic Affective (OF)

    A combination of qualitative, holistic analysis is combined with an decrease in motivation, flow or energy.

    Self-reporting questions:

    • When I try identifying the holistic patterns of something, I tend to get fatigued.
    • When I learn about how different factors sometimes influence a process, I tend to lose motivation.
    • When I try to get the picture of all agents working together, I tend to lose motivation.
    • When I learn about how ideas and philosophies influence people, I tend to get fatigued.

    Conflict-energy

    Conflict-energy is states created by combining an conflict-attribute (evaluative, explorative) with an energy-attribute (cognitive, affective).

    Evaluative Cognitive (VG)

    Related to high density of dopamine D2 receptors in striatum.

    Self-reporting questions:

    • When I must be cautious and reflective before acting on new information, I tend to get motivated.
    • When I must be careful and sensitive about how to act on new information, I tend get into a state of flow.
    • When I must be delicate and sensitive in how to act on new information, I tend to feel content.
    • When I must take my time to study a situation before acting, I tend to get motivated.

    Evaluative Affective (VF)

    Related to low density of dopamine D2 receptors in striatum.

    Self-reporting questions:

    • When I must be cautious and reflective before acting on new information, I tend to lose motivation.
    • When I must be careful and sensitive about how to act on new information, I tend to get fatigued.
    • When I must be delicate and sensitive in how to act on new information, I tend to become indifferent.
    • When I must take my time to study a situation before acting, I tend to lose energy.

    Explorative Cognitive (XG)

    Related to low density of dopamine D2 receptors in striatum.

    Self-reporting questions:

    • When I must make decisions based on impulses, I tend to get motivated.
    • When I must act on information without thinking through it first, I tend get into a state of flow.
    • When I must make broad decisions without thinking things through first, I tend to feel content.
    • When I must act without reflecting on it first, I tend to get motivated.

    Explorative Affective (XF)

    Related to high density of dopamine D2 receptors in striatum.

    Self-reporting questions:

    • When I must act on new information without thinking first, I tend to lose motivation.
    • When I must act on new information without reflecting on it first, I tend to get fatigued.
    • When I must make broad decisions without thinking through it first, I tend to become indifferent.
    • When I must make decisions without contemplating on it first, I tend to lose energy.