The Reptile Brain

Introduction   On a nightly basis, DS have the opportunity to observe the full spectrum of human behaviour. These behaviour patterns range from the light and bright to the dark and dangerous.  This section is designed to give the DS an insight into the minds of individuals who may appear to  have 'lost the plot' and are behaving in an antisocial manner. Most people engage in social interaction, drinking and the use of illegal drugs to unwind and enjoy themselves. But, on many occasions, these three factors can produce a monster. Social interaction, drink and illegal drugs will create altered states of consciousness that have a direct effect on the forebrain. This part of the brain is responsible for all aspects of learning, judgment, the regulation of behaviour (Scarf 1976 p.87) as well as speech control. When the forebrain is disabled by either drugs, drink and the hormones of an emotional high,  there is a high probability that rational control through the forebrain will be lost. Without this rational control, more primitive parts of the brain have a more direct input into human behaviour. social constraints, empathy, conscience and learned behaviour patterns are forgotten and the individual  will appear to behave like a reptile.

The theory of  The Reptile Brain has not been proven, or disproved for that matter. It  is used here to serve as a  metaphor, a simple plausible description for the workings of the human brain and an explanation for the horrifying behaviour that DS have to deal with on a nightly basis. Once you recognise the cues outlined below for an individual descending into evil and dangerous behaviour, you will be able to pre-empt that behaviour. Later on, the legal eagles, can dress up their clients, comb their hair and then cite the 'Twinkie Syndrome',  'Drunk as a Skunk' or 'The Abuse Excuse',  but when the problem is in your face, you are dealing with a reptile. 

The Triune Theory    One possible source for the evil and dangerous behaviour exhibited by human beings has been labelled  'The Reptile Brain'. A concept first proposed by P.D. McLean in 1973. He noted that the human brain is clearly divided into three sections.   The three sections of the human brain  represent  the major evolutionary stages in it's development. This concept is also called microgenesis. Although these three sections are separate, they are interconnected by many nerve fibers or neural connections. 

The Limbic System -  Responsible for Emotional Behaviour  The Limbic System or Old Mammalian Brain, which surrounds the brain stem is named after the mammals that replaced the reptiles. The limbic system evolved over 60 million years ago. The main role of this section of the brain is to maintain homeostasis throughout the body. This means it regulates body temperatures, blood pressure, heart rate and blood sugar levels. Without this process of homeostasis the human body would remain cold - blooded and  reptilian. The Limbic system also  governs the emotional instincts and emotional behaviours expressed  in relation to the four F's. These are,  Feeding, Fighting, Fleeing and Finally, sexual union. Here the heart can overrule the reasoning mind. For example, affairs of the heart, hunches, intuition, gut feelings and instincts can influence an individual's  final decision. At the most basic level, this part of the brain determines how you feel towards a subject. That is, either positive or negative, good or bad and finally, avoiding pain  and repeating pleasure.  

'help us understand the literally mindless and uniform behaviour of masses at political rallies' (p.13).

Or as Ardly (1970) states;

'The mob reverts to the Reptilian Brain'

Koestler (1976) states;

"psychological problems can be traced back to the dysfunction between the three brains".

Montagu (1975) argues against these views. He states that because of the similarities between the brains of reptiles and humans, it does not necessarily  follow that there will be similarities in behaviour.

What Montague has not tried to explain is what happens when the cortex loses primary control and behaviour is dependant on the direct influence of the Old Mammalian and Reptilian brains. This can occur when the individual ingests either drugs or drink or else loses emotional control.  For example,  in moments of sheer terror or fear, or in legal terms, in 'the heat of the moment', 'crimes of passion' etc.

Other than using the pre-emptive strike, there are two other weapons  you can try in order to draw the individual back from their decent into reptilian behaviour. Those  are Posture and Verbal Interaction. If you can keep the individual engaged in conversation, while presenting an inoffensive demeanour, there is less likelihood of them  going totally Reptile. For example, on one occasion I stopped an individual from fighting by keeping both my palms open, facing him and asked him. "What has happened? What is wrong?".  By meeting immanent violence with a concerned attitude and a non violent posture, I defused the situation and the individual walked off. My palms open stance was non-confrontational but I was 100% ready to dodge away and then whack the bum if his shoulders as much as twitched. 

There is one other type of  reptile who will extend your patience and good nature to the limits. These are the drunken individuals who realise you are operating a minimum force policy, that is, you have not hit the bums, as yet, despite their drunken tirade. Once you get them to the door without a fight, they can shift their emotions from happy drunk to psycho reptile faster than you can close the door on their back. Usually they will vent their spleen on inanimate objects, rather than you,  if you keep the door closed.

Consider some of the statistics from the Health Promotion Agency (NI)(2002), where alcohol has been estimated to be a factor in:

• 45% of wounding and assault cases

• 88% of criminal damage arrests

The following real life situation  involved these two percentages, with the perp vacillating between drunken aggression, Reptile Mode and adrenalin highs for  approximately ten minutes. 

I observed my partner physically ejecting a drunk from the venue, after failing to talk him out. At the door I took over the incident, allowing my partner to back off from this hostile scene. This procedure normally has the effect of deescalating the situation. Not in this case, Mr. Anus became more agitated and frustrated despite all my attempts. He then proceeded to rip up the bedding plants from the bar garden and throw them at me. That was just for openers, he then came close enough to spit on me and despite the admonishments of his friends he then proceeded to kick  out. At this stage I closed the door on Mr. Anus, hoping he would cool down and depart with his friends.

This ploy also failed. Mr. Anus made his way to the side door and despite being restrained by his friend, he spat at, kicked and then tried to head butt me. At this stage, ( Oh, Happy Days)  he broke away from his friends so I pinned him to the wall with my version of the Vulcan Death Grip. I was amused to note that this move usually had my training partners grovelling, speechless and tapping out. I was now quite happily using twice as much force,  but Mr. Anus was only whining,  "Let me go, big man!"  At least the hold stopped the kicking,  spitting and head butting.  It was quite obvious that an adrenalin dump had taken place and the minimum force pressure point attack did not totally work. I also used this time out to ask Mr. Anus to desist from his physical abuse. Again, a friend intervened and walked him away from the door where he proceeded to kick out the garden lighting system.