The Science of Consequences : How They Affect Genes, Change the Brain, and Impact Our World

Featuring illustrative human, pet, and wild-animal anecdotes, this book is a unique and fascinating introduction to a science that is truly epic in scope. Children quickly learn that actions have consequences. This elementary lesson is repeated again and again throughout adulthood as we adjust our behaviors according to the reactions they produce in the social and natural environment. Now, an internationally recognized biopsychologist, tells the story of how something so deceptively simple can help make sense of so much. Despite their variety, consequences appear to follow a common set of scientific principles and share some similar effects in the brain (specifically, in the so-called pleasure centers). Based on these principles, Schneider and other scientists have been able to create mathematical models of certain behaviors. And they have demonstrated that learning from consequences predictably activates genes and restructures the neural configuration of the brain-in humans as well as in animals. Consequences are an integral part of the nature-and-nurture system. The knowledge gained from this newly expanded science has many applications, as the author shows in examples from the home, the hospital, the classroom, and the boardroom. The science of consequences helps fight prejudice, free addicts of their destructive habits, and treat depression. It enriches the lives of pets and zoo animals. It also sheds light on our biggest societal challenges, where we must choose between short-term and long-term consequences. Actions Have Consequences--and The Ability To Learn From Them Revolutionized Life On Earth. While It's Easy Enough To See That Consequences Are Important (where Would We Be Without Positive Reinforcement?), Few Have Heard There's A Science Of Consequences, With Principles That Affect Us Every Day. Despite Their Variety, Consequences Appear To Follow A Common Set Of Scientific Principles And Share Some Similar Effects In The Brain--such As The Pleasure Centers. Nature And Nurture Always Work Together, And Scientists Have Demonstrated That Learning From Consequences Predictably Activates Genes And Restructures The Brain. Applications Are Everywhere--at Home, At Work, And At School, And That's Just For Starters. Individually And Societally, For Example, Self-control Pits Short-term Against Long-term Consequences. Ten Years In The Making, This Award-winning Book Tells A Tale Ranging From Genetics To Neurotransmitters, From Emotion To Language, From Parenting To Politics, Taking An Inclusive Interdisciplinary Approach To Show How Something So Deceptively Simple Can Help Make Sense Of So Much. Actions have consequences--and the ability to learn from them revolutionized life on earth. While it's easy enough to see that consequences are important (where would we be without positive reinforcement?), few have heard there's a science of consequences, with principles that affect us every day. What's more, nature and nurture always work together, and learning often drives the flexibility in the system - routinely modifying our neurophysiology. Applications are everywhere, throughout everyday life, even helping fight prejudice, free addicts of their destructive habits, and treat depression. This science enriches the lives of pets and zoo animals, while also shedding light on our biggest societal challenges, where we must choose between short-term and long-term consequences. A unique and fascinating introduction to a science that is epic in scope. Actions have consequences, and the ability to learn from them revolutionized life on earth. It comes in quite handy for everyday life too. Consequences appear to follow a common set of scientific principles and share some similar effects in the brain. Schneider draws together research lines from many scientific fields to tell the story of how something so deceptively simple can help make sense of so much. Based on common set of scientific principles, scientists have been able to create mathematical models of certain behaviors, This book tells the story of how something so deceptively simple can help make sense of so much. It presents an introduction to a new field of science that is truly epic in scope.