Human Behavior Patterns

Investing in public and private assets has become a frequent behavior of human beings who are living above the economic subsistence level. This behavior is part of a broader set of human behavior patterns. Understanding those general human behavior patterns is fundamental to understanding and engaging in investing.

Why Human Behavior Patterns rather than simply Human Behavior?

To generalize human behavior beyond investing we speak of Human Behavior Patterns rather than simply Human Behavior. This is mainly because we want to be able to make inferences of the vast majority of human beings. If we would also include all exceptional odd and very peculiar individual behavior, it would become hard, not to say impossible, to describe and model behavior in group dynamics. Group dynamics are of course detrimental to investing in especially public assets.

Human Behavior Patterns are extensively but not exhaustively listed by the so called Human Universals, a book by Donald Brown, an American professor of anthropology (emeritus) who worked at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Brown says human universals, “comprise those features of culture, society, language, behavior, and psyche for which there are no known exceptions.”

Classifying Human Behavior Patterns

Human behavior patterns can be classified buy: 1) Decision making, 2) Applying heuristics, (beliefs) 3) Physical execution, 4) Appreciating aesthetics. Or also: natural versus nurtural (cultural) behaviors.

In the cultural realm, human universals include myths, legends, daily routines, rules, concepts of luck and precedent, body adornment, and the use and production of tools; in the realm of language, universals include grammar, phonemes, polysemy, metonymy, antonyms, and an inverse ratio between the frequency of use and the length of words; in the social realm, universals include a division of labor, social groups, age grading, the family, kinship systems, ethnocentrism, play, exchange, cooperation, and reciprocity; in the behavioral realm, universals include aggression, gestures, gossip, and facial expressions; in the realm of the mind, universals include emotions, dichotomous thinking, wariness around or fear of snakes, empathy, and psychological defense mechanisms.

Many universals do not fall neatly into one or another of these conventional realms, but cut across them. Kinship terminologies (in English, the set of terms that includes ‘father,’ ‘mother,’ ‘brother,’ ‘sister,’ ‘cousin,’ etc.) are simultaneously social, cultural, and linguistic. The concept of property is social and cultural. Revenge is both behavioral and social. Lying and conversational turn-taking are simultaneously behavioral, social, and linguistic. Many behavioral universals almost certainly have distinctive, even dedicated, neural underpinnings, and thus are universals of mind too.

What is human behavior?

What origins do generate human behavior?

Personality singled out as a more distinct behavior generator residing between nature and nurture

In the general formulation of nature and nurture as behavior generators, its is worth while to emphasize personality as more distinct feature of human behavior generation. Personality traits, or Intrinsic differences from person to person, are shaped by experiences and genetics. Both nature and nurture can play a role in personality. Large-scale twin studies on the one hand suggest that there is a strong genetic component. On the other hand (early childhood) experiences also are claimed to be of importance in personality. Personality is any person’s or individual’s collection of interrelated behavioral, cognitive and emotional patterns that biological and environmental factors influence; these interrelated patterns are relatively stable over long time periods, but they change over the entire lifetime.

Ambiguity in values cause ambiguity in behavior

To do: origins of behavior which are long-term molded like personality, core-values, core-beliefs, worldview

Negativity bias in behavior

Low road versus high road response

A more detailed look into the origins of behavior: Chat GPT

Diving deeper into the origins of human behavior beyond the abstract ‘nature’ and ‘nurture’ concepts often result in behavior generators which are not strictly just sub-divisions of these two but are rather a mixture of ‘nature’ as wel as ‘nurture’. Human behavior is influenced by a complex interplay of various determinants, including biological, psychological, social, cultural, and environmental factors. Understanding these determinants can help us gain insights into why people behave the way they do. Here are some of the key determinants of human behavior:

1. Biological Factors:

• Genetics: Genetic predispositions can influence personality traits, tendencies toward certain behaviors, and susceptibility to certain mental health conditions.
• Neurochemistry: Brain chemistry, including neurotransmitters and hormones, can impact mood, motivation, and behavior.
• Brain Structure: The physical structure of the brain and its regions can affect cognitive processes and behavior.

1. Psychological Factors:

• Cognition: How individuals think, perceive, and process information plays a crucial role in shaping behavior.
• Emotions: Emotional states can drive behavior, influence decision-making, and impact interpersonal interactions.
• Personality: Individual differences in personality traits, such as extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness, can influence behavior.

1. Social and Cultural Factors:

• Social Norms: Cultural and societal expectations and norms dictate acceptable behavior within a given community or group.
• Socialization: The process of learning and adopting behavior patterns, values, and beliefs from one’s culture, family, and peers.
• Social Influence: Pressure from others, conformity, and peer influence can affect behavior choices.

1. Environmental Factors:

• Physical Environment: The physical surroundings, including access to resources, can influence behavior. For example, access to healthy food choices can impact eating habits.
• Economic Factors: Socioeconomic status, income, and economic opportunities can affect lifestyle choices and behavior.
• Educational Opportunities: Access to education and the quality of education can influence knowledge and behavior.

1. Historical and Contextual Factors:

• Historical Events: Past events and historical context can shape societal attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors.
• Crisis Situations: Emergency situations, such as natural disasters or pandemics, can lead to changes in behavior.
• Media and Technology: Mass media, social media, and technology play a significant role in shaping opinions and behaviors.

1. Personal Values and Beliefs:

• Religion and Spirituality: Religious beliefs and practices can influence behavior and decision-making.
• Ethical and Moral Values: Personal values and moral principles can guide behavior choices.

1. Motivation and Incentives:

• Motivation: Internal and external factors, such as rewards, goals, and desires, can drive behavior.
• Incentives: The prospect of rewards or consequences can influence decision-making and behavior.

1. Health and Well-being:

• Physical Health: Physical health status, including chronic illnesses, can affect behavior.
• Mental Health: Mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety, can influence emotions and behavior.

It’s important to note that these determinants are interconnected, and individual behavior is often the result of a complex interplay among them. Moreover, the relative importance of these determinants can vary greatly from person to person and across different situations. Understanding these factors can help us better comprehend and predict human behavior, but it is still a challenging and evolving field of study.

Experience

• First time experience
• Childhood exprience
• Learning (repetitive practicing)
• Learning from others
• Memory
• Belief formation
• Limiting beliefs
• Religion
• Skill formation
• Consciousness and experience: Onbewust onbekwaam, Bewust onbekwaam, Bewust Bekwaam, Onbewust bekwaam

How the road is taken [chatgpt]

The “high road” and “low road” are terms often used to describe two different pathways in the brain involved in the processing of emotional and sensory stimuli, particularly in the context of fear or threat detection. These pathways are part of the broader system responsible for the brain’s response to stimuli, particularly those related to survival and emotional processing. Here’s an overview of how the determination is made between these pathways:

1. High Road (Cortical Pathway):

• The high road involves the cortical pathway, which primarily includes the neocortex, particularly the prefrontal cortex, and other higher-order brain regions.
• When you receive a sensory stimulus, such as a sight or sound, it first enters the thalamus, which acts as a relay station.
• From the thalamus, the stimulus can take the high road, where it is directed to the cortex for more detailed and conscious processing.
• In the cortex, the stimulus is evaluated, analyzed, and interpreted in a way that is context-dependent and influenced by past experiences, memories, and cognitive processes.
• This pathway allows for more complex and nuanced understanding of the stimulus and can lead to a more controlled and reasoned emotional response.

1. Low Road (Subcortical Pathway):

• The low road involves subcortical structures, primarily the amygdala and related brain regions.
• When a stimulus is perceived, it can also take the low road, bypassing the cortex to reach the amygdala directly.
• The amygdala is involved in rapid, automatic, and unconscious processing of emotional and threat-related stimuli.
• It triggers a quick, instinctive emotional response, such as fear or anxiety, without the need for conscious thought or analysis.
• This pathway is essential for immediate reactions to potential threats and is often associated with the fight-or-flight response.

The determination of whether the high road or low road is taken depends on several factors, including the nature of the stimulus, its intensity, the individual’s past experiences, and their current emotional state. Here are some key considerations:

• Stimulus Type: Some stimuli may directly activate the low road because they are perceived as potential threats (e.g., a sudden loud noise). Others may take the high road if they are less threatening or require more detailed analysis (e.g., a complex social interaction).
• Intensity: Intense or highly salient stimuli are more likely to activate the low road and trigger a rapid emotional response.
• Experience and Learning: Past experiences and conditioning can influence which pathway is taken. If an individual has learned to associate a particular stimulus with a threat, the low road may be more easily activated.
• Context: The context in which a stimulus is presented can also determine the pathway. In some situations, a stimulus may initially activate the low road, but subsequent cognitive processing in the cortex can modify the emotional response.

In summary, the brain determines whether the high road or low road is taken when receiving a stimulus based on a complex interplay of factors, including the nature of the stimulus, its intensity, past experiences, and the individual’s current cognitive and emotional state. These pathways work together to provide a balanced and adaptive response to the environment.

Low road alternative explanations

The idea behind the low road is “take no chances.” If the front door to your home is suddenly knocking against the frame, it could be the wind. It could also be a burglar trying to get in. It’s far less dangerous to assume it’s a burglar and have it turn out to be the wind than to assume it’s the wind and have it turn out to be a burglar. The low road shoots first and asks questions later. 

Difference low road and reflexive response [chatgpt]

A “low road response” and a “reflexive response” are not exactly the same, but they share similarities in terms of their quick and automatic nature.

1. Low Road Response: This term is often used in the context of emotional and cognitive processes. The “low road” refers to the rapid, automatic, and subconscious processing of stimuli. For example, when you perceive a threat, your brain might initiate a low road response that triggers the fight-or-flight reaction, releasing stress hormones and preparing your body to respond quickly without conscious thought.
2. Reflexive Response: Reflexes are rapid, involuntary responses to a specific stimulus. They are typically controlled by the spinal cord or lower brain centers, bypassing conscious thought. For example, the knee-jerk reflex occurs when a doctor taps your knee with a hammer, causing your leg to kick without you consciously deciding to do so.

While both low road responses and reflexive responses share the characteristic of quick, automatic reactions, there are differences in their underlying mechanisms and the types of stimuli they respond to. Low road responses are often more complex and can involve emotional and cognitive processing, whereas reflexive responses are usually simple, stereotypical actions triggered by a specific sensory input.

Reflexive behavior

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Low road behavior

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