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Sol Davidson B.Sc. B.Ed. MBA.'s avatar

HOW NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROPOLITICS MAY HELP TO EXPLAIN THE RISING TIDE OF POLARISATION IN POLITICS AND WHY SO MANY RECENT AND CURRENT POLITICIANS BEHAVE IN DYSFUNCTIONAL WAYS

1. The worldwide ACE( Adverse Childhood Experience ) research program, 1985 and ongoing, is revealing that up to 40% of the population studied so far experienced either extreme or significant child hood trauma

2. Neuroscience is indicating that such levels of childhood trauma can cause the Amdygla to overproduce Cortisol and Adrenaline, the fight, flight or freeze hormones, leading to fear, anger, aggression, splitting and dissociation in later life.

3. The Amdyglas high demand for the requisite neurophysiological resources to create this oversupply of adrenaline and cortisol reduces the capacity of the Prefrontal Cortex to produce dopamine and serotonin which are required for empathic, relational and rational behaviour.

4. Neuropolitics can help to explain the rising tide of polarisation and dysfunctional politicians by recognising that a significant number of current and recent political figures themselves had high levels of childhood trauma which through their language and behaviour resonates unconsciously with, and attracts the traumatised 40 % in the relevant countries.

5. The neo liberal agenda in the western world of the past 40 years has made child bearing significantly more stressful with up to 60% of parents having to both work, the cost of housing becoming out of reach for those of child bearing age, maternity/paternity care provisions being cut, good child care being unaffordable, increasing foster care , increasing divorce rates, increasing drug, alcohol and addictive behaviour and heightened stress and anxiety levels conveyed in the social media channels.

6. The data coming from neuroscience and neuropolitics indicates a high need for policy makers and leaders at all levels to become aware of this research and to explore ways and means of reducing childhood trauma especially as the levels of childhood trauma are on the increase which may create an even more polarised and dysfunctional political world. The cost benefits arising from such action could well outweigh the social and economic costs of the consequences of traumatic childhoods.

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