• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Marcel van der Haas

Change | Coaching | Communication

  • Nederlands
  • English
  • What I do
  • How I work
  • References
  • Background
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • What I do
  • How I work
  • References
  • Background
  • Blog
  • Contact
You are here: Home / Articles / The wisdom of our reptile brain

The wisdom of our reptile brain

06/09/2019

Although we often make things appear differently, our brain consists of not one but three brains: the cognitive, the emotional and the instinctive brain. Our cognitive brain has only recently developed in evolution. However, it behaves like a dominant owner who thinks he knows everything better. As a result, the wisdom of our other brains is rather neglected.

The emotional brain, with the well-known emotions scared, angry, happy and sad, can be heard the most. Preferably at inappropriate times. Rationally, our emotions can disrupt things a lot. We therefore prefer to keep the emotional brain under control. By counting to 10. We then prefer to deny our deeper instincts for fleeing, fighting or freezing. With which we also deny the wisdom of our instinctive brain or also reptile brain.

According to the classical (rational) view, we first think of something, then perhaps we feel something about it, and then we link an action to it. We thus forget to use a substantial part of our brain capacity. A more integrated deployment of our brain takes us further. By learning to listen more to our instincts, then to our emotions and then to attach a cognitive conclusion to it. In the order that evolution has also developed our brains.

Recent blogs

  • The wisdom of our reptile brain
  • The team as a living organism
  • The first contact as a diagnostic tool
  • Safety as a basic condition for a healthy dialogue
  • The hidden value of acceptance

/Marcel van der Haas

/Change   /Coaching   /Communication

+31 (0)6 212 41 629
Kadoelenweg 356
1035NT Amsterdam
mail@marcelvanderhaas.nl
linkedin.com/in/
marcelvanderhaas

© 2017-2025 Marcel van der Haas
T +31 (0)6 212 41 629 · mail@marcelvanderhaas.nl
KvK 64071553 · Privacy & cookies

Log in

Website by ArtoFakt

Scroll Up
Manage Cookie Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}