Your Doit Mind: Exploring the Mind

This theory is the first of four theories about human consciousness associated with the H I Mind Model. The four theories are independent, in the sense that each addresses a different aspect of consciousness and do not rely on each other. Each theory contributes, subject to verification, to an overall understanding of the function and experience of human consciousness.

This theory suggests a structural model of consciousness that comprehensively covers the great variability of our conscious experience whilst providing an initial definition of the core of consciousness.

The H I Mind Focuses.

The H I Mind Model describes a structured version of the mind derived from evolutionary and behavioural principles. Five focuses of mind are proposed that are available to our inner awareness at various times and in various ways. The five focuses are built upon the Subconscious (or Non-Conscious) which is treated as complex but automatic, and not directly available to our consciousness. The H I Mind Model is described more fully elsewhere.

Very briefly, the conscious or semi-conscious focuses are:

The Social Focus.

This covers social behaviours to enable basic family or pack activities. Basically pre-verbal but giving abilities to get on with close relatives, to learn from others, and to provide mutual support. The Social Focus is largely knowledge-based.

The Aspirational Focus.

This covers creative abilities, including play and exploration as well as an ability to imagine future potentials. The Aspirational Focus compliments the Social Focus but functions to provide intelligent spontaneity (what-may-be) rather than relying what-has-been-learned.

The Cultural Focus.

This covers abilities, including language-based communications, that enable much larger populations to work together. The Cultural Focus extends the memory-based learning of the Social Focus to include specific factual learning.

The Noble Focus.

This covers non-self, outward-looking, topics that are not covered by the other focuses. The Noble Focus extends the creative abilities of the Aspirational Focus and provides wisdom, morality, altruism, and selflessness as well as experiences of wonder and awe.

The Planning Focus. Core Consciousness.

This covers management of the other focuses and represents our day-to-day experience of thoughtful consciousness. The Planning Focus applies logic for problem-solving and to establish optimal behaviour for a particular situation.

Five Focuses Working Together.

Consciousness and the Brain.

Broadly, the Social and Cultural Focuses appear to be broadly associated with the left hemisphere in the brain whilst the Aspirational and Noble Focuses appear to be broadly associated with the right hemisphere.

Core Conscious is crudely associated with the bridge between the hemispheres but also represents an interplay of brain activity amongst the other focuses where activity varies according to the needs and opportunities of the current moment.

The brain is a complex and structured physical organ and the mind is a metaphor used to describe and work with our everyday experience. A direct functional relationship between our brain and a useful model of the mind is probably impossible, but the H I Mind Model seems to offer some promising potential for relating brain and mind.

Core Consciousness.

This theory suggests an essential consciousness as that part of our functional mind that is concerned with managing our conscious and semi-conscious mind as a whole. Core Consciousness is based on self-awareness and exists to resolve the diverse mental motivations produced by the other focuses of mind, however these may be defined.Of course, the concept of Core Consciousness is described through other theories. I believe that the focuses described by the H I Mind Model offer a uniquely useful approach but the concept of Core Consciousness itself is not dependent on the specific modelling of semi-consciousness.

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