Realizations Inc

©Arlene R. Taylor PhD

There may be as many different ways to respond to the question who am I? in terms of brain function as there are individuals on this planet. The discovery process can be challenging for a myriad of differing reasons (e.g., Genetic and Epigenetic inheritance, past personal experience, societal and cultural mores, expectations from a whole host of sources, family-of-origin issues, and perceived available opportunities and/or reward options), but the process is essential if you want to thrive by design.

Society has a tendency toward a one-size-fits-all mentality. This became even more entrenched after the industrial revolution. Does one size really fit all? Of course not! It’s definitely different strokes for different folks. To be effective with a cross-section of different folks, you need a cross-section of different strokes.

Living authentically is energy efficient. In order to accomplish this, you need to identify how your brain functions innately. Very little (if anything) in life is free. You usually give something up to get something. The basic medium of exchange is energy (life force), not time or money or talent. The bottom line: you pay in energy! Evaluate how much a specific something (e.g., activities, relationships) costs your brain in energy. Then decide if you want to give up that amount of energy in exchange for that something.

The primary purpose of Taylor’s "Who Am I?”Pyramid" Model is to provide a framework for helping individuals identify their own innate giftedness in five overlays. It can also help to explain similarities and differences between individuals in a somewhat neutral and non-threatening language. The focus is on assisting individuals to identify, affirm, honor, and live their innate giftedness—in order to manage their energy expenditures more efficiently, enhance their relationships, improve communication, increase their likelihood for success, and avoid or recover from Prolonged Adaption Stress Syndrome (PASS).

Many of the problems with which human beings struggle can be laid at the door of a mismatch between one or more of these five overlays and the innate energy advantage or unique giftedness of the person’s brain. The mismatch may be triggered by expectations; expectations of the person, family, school, religion, society, culture, business, or you name it. Unfortunately, many of those expectations, often based on misguided concern or lack of knowledge, are extremely unhelpful to an individual brain.

Webster’s defines a “model” as a description or analogy used to help visualize something. In just such a manner, many models have been developed in an attempt to explain variations in human behavior. These include educational, learning style, leadership, social science, physiological, psychological, and thinking-style models, just to name a few. They can provide a framework from which to identify and discuss differences and similarities, a sort of shorthand language.

Taylor's "Who Am I? Pyramid" Model (see illustration on the right) integrates and expands on work from a number of researchers. Of necessity it is a work-in-progress.

 The newest layer is West-East Brain. Cultural Neuroscience is identifying the neurobiological basis for well-known, as well as for unexpected ways, in which cultural changes the structure of the brain and impacts how it functions.

Refer to the brief descriptions that follow for more information about each layer.

Gender Brain

Where does your brain fall on the metaphorical Male-Female Continuum?

This component refers to the type of brain an individual possesses in terms of a male-style brain (primarily systemizing), a female style brain (primarily empathizing), or a 50:50 blend of both. Based on an innate gender brain type, an estimated 95% of individuals can be assigned a relative position on a metaphorical Male-Female Continuum. (Approximately 5% of brains cannot be plotted on this M-F Continuum, although not a lot is known as yet about their specific characteristics.)

West-East Brain

Do you have a West Brain or an East Brain?

This component refers to the type of brain you possess in terms of a West Brain or East Brain style of processing. The field of Cultural Neuroscience has shown that culture can and does shape a person’s brain. Initial studies have compared brain structure and functions of Westerners versus Asians. As Sharon Begley wrote in a recent Newsweek article on this topic, cultural neuroscience is showing "how fundamental cultural differences are.” In fact, some believe that cultural differences may be so fundamental that universal notions such as human rights, democracy, and the like may be no such thing.

Extravert-Ambivert-Introvert

What is your relative position on the EAI Continuum?

This component refers to the type of brain you possess in terms of Extraversion, Ambiversion, or Introversion. Based on the brain’s innate relative Extraversion-Introversion ratio, most individuals can be assigned a relative position on a metaphorical EAI Continuum. This position describes whether the brain’s focus is more external or internal, its comfort level in a given environment, and the type of environment that is conducive to learning. When a brain is subjected to chronic stress for two or more years, its position on the EAI Continuum may be pushed temporarily toward Introversion, which can impact energy levels and eventually perhaps level of health, as well.

Sensory Preference

Which type of sensory data represents your Sensory Preference?

This component refers to the type of brain you possess in relation to the type of sensory data (Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic) that registers most quickly and intensely in your brain. Unimpaired, human brains are generally able to process all types of sensory data, although it appears that most brains have a preference. Sensory Preference impacts what the brain pays attention to, the way it takes in sensory data, its comfort level in any given situation based on the sensory stimuli in the environment, and the way in which it interacts with other brains and with the environment.

Brain Lead

Which cerebral division contains your brain’s innate energy advantage?

This component refers to the type of brain you possess in relation to its energy-efficiency for processing information. It describes an innate biochemical energy advantage in one of four natural divisions of the cerebrum. Known as brain lead, this influences the way in which the brain pays attention to and manages data. It involves the speed at which information flies across the synapses throughout the cerebrum and the amount of energy that process requires. At some level, most people are believed to use functions from the entire brain; however, if you figure out your brain's energy advantage you are more likely to be able to live your life by design.

There can be a huge difference between what your brain may have learned to do well and what it does energy-efficiently. Using a monitory metaphor, when an activity matches your brain's innate energy advantage, estimate you are expending $1 per second in brain energy. When the activity does not match your brain's innate energy advantage, estimate you are expending $100 per second in brain energy.

Studies have shown that you are more likely to be healthy, happy, and successful, and live out your potential longevity, when the majority of your life’s activities (e.g., at least 51%) match what your brain does energy-efficiently.