DO IT YOURSELF LOBOTOMY
WHAT PART OF THE BRAIN GIVES A SHIT?
The concern for what others think about us is primarily associated with the brain’s social processing circuitry. Key areas involved include:
Prefrontal Cortex (PFC): Especially the medial and orbital parts, which are involved in understanding others’ thoughts and feelings, and in self-reflection.
Temporal Lobes: Including the superior temporal sulcus, which is involved in perceiving where others are directing their attention.
Amygdala: Plays a role in emotional processing and how we perceive social cues like facial expressions and eye gaze.
Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC): Involved in conflict monitoring, which includes internal conflicts that arise from social rejection or disapproval.
Insula: Engages in the emotional aspect of social interactions and empathy.
These brain regions are part of a broader network that processes social information and helps us navigate social complexities, including concern for reputation and social standing. many mammals, especially social ones like primates, elephants, and cetaceans (dolphins and whales), do show signs of caring about social status or the perceptions of their group members, the degree to which they are concerned about what others ‘think’ of them is not fully understood and is a subject of ongoing research.
