Clearer Thinking with Spencer Greenberg A new paradigm for psychology research (with Slime Mold Time Mold)
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Sep 24, 2025 Guest
Slime Mold Time Mold (secondary guest speaker)
Guest
Slime Mold Time Mold (primary guest speaker)
In this engaging discussion, the Slime Mold Time Mold collective sheds light on their innovative cybernetic approach to psychology. They challenge conventional traits, insisting on identifying entities and rules for understanding behavior. Dive into how hunger and fear operate as internal governors, plus their fascinating research linking obesity and environmental factors like lithium. Expect to learn how emotions fit into this paradigm, why the Big Five might mislead, and the future directions for a richer, more mechanistic psychology.
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Multiple Hunger Governors
- Hunger likely splits into multiple specific drives (salt, sugar, calories) rather than a single monolithic signal.
- Distinct nutrient cravings imply many governors tuned to different needs.
Emotions As Error Signals
- Emotions are treated as error signals from governors; anger may reflect low social control needing correction.
- If an emotion is a poor fit, that signals a new research question about different mechanisms.
Different Implementations, Same Behavior
- Spencer's 'modes' description of emotions fits cybernetic implementation: sensors detect situations and trigger graded action vectors.
- Different implementations can be equivalent in output yet differ mechanistically.
