The Subliminal Self in the System: Unmasking Bias in Conceptualizing Complexity
Creators: name: Winer, Robert
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025

description: Briefing Document: "The Subliminal Self in the System: Unmasking Bias in Conceptualizing Complexity" (Google NotebookLM)

https://robertwinermd.blogspot.com/2025/02/the-subliminal-self-in-system-unmasking.html

Date: 20 February 2025

Authors: Robert Winer, M.D. and Gemini Advanced 2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental

 

Key Themes and Ideas:

This essay argues that the term "system," though often presented as a neutral descriptor of organization and interdependence, is actually laden with unconscious bias due to what the authors term "subliminal self-insertion." This "proto-self" insertion significantly shapes our understanding of complex systems in various fields. The authors analyze how this bias affects the fields of economics and social theory, and also explore the neurobiological basis of this phenomenon.

 

Core Argument:

The simple act of using the word "system" subconsciously inserts a rudimentary sense of agency and operationality (a "proto-self") into our conceptualization of that system. This, in turn, triggers psychological biases like personification, projection, and identification, warping our analytical lens and leading to an oversimplified, anthropocentric view of how systems operate.

 

Key Concepts and Definitions:



System: While defined as a neutral term for organization and interdependence, the authors argue that its usage initiates a biased cognitive process.

Subliminal Self-Insertion: The unconscious act of projecting a "proto-self" into our understanding of a system, imbuing it with implicit agency and operationality.

Proto-Self: A rudimentary, implicit sense of agency and operationality that we unconsciously project onto a system when we use the term. It is not a fully formed ego, but rather a basic sense of the capacity to function.

Personification: Attributing human-like qualities, intentions, and desires to a system. Examples: "the market responded to the crisis," or "the system maintains equilibrium."

Projection: Unconsciously projecting our own understanding of self-operation onto the system, interpreting its behavior through the lens of our own intentionality and goals.

Identification: Identifying with the imagined "proto-self" within the system (feeling part of it) or identifying with the perspective of the system (trying to see the world from its viewpoint).


 

Main Points and Supporting Evidence:



The Illusion of Neutrality: The authors challenge the notion that "system" is a purely neutral descriptor. "Language, after all, is not a passive mirror reflecting reality; it is an active force that shapes our perception of it." The term "system" activates connotations related to structure and control, subtly coloring our understanding.

The "Proto-Self" Hypothesis: When we use the word "system," we subliminally insert a "proto-self" into our imagined conceptualization. This insertion is not a conscious choice, but a subtle cognitive act that alters our perspective.

Psychological Biases Triggered: The "proto-self" insertion triggers personification, projection, and identification. These biases lead us to seek agency and intentionality even where they may not exist, leading to a simplified view of system operation and can "blind us to the often more significant dynamics of emergence, non-linearity, and sheer complexity that are inherent in many systems."

Economic Systems as a Case Study: The field of economics provides a strong example of the "proto-self" effect. Phrases like "economic system" and "market system" personify the market. The authors suggest the field of Behavioral Economics challenges the notion of "Homo economicus" and accounts for the "fudge factor" introduced by personification.

Limitations of Economic Models: Economic models are always approximations, never fully capturing the messy, dynamic reality they seek to represent. Real-world systems involving human behavior are too nuanced and unpredictable to be perfectly captured.

Neurobiological Grounding: The concept of a "proto-self" resonates with the self-organizing nature of nervous systems. The authors propose that "instinctual" behaviors are emergent properties of living nervous tissue rather than pre-programmed circuits. This inherent self-organization can be seen as a foundational, embodied "proto-self."

Embodied Cognition of Systems: Our capacity to understand "systems" may be rooted in our own embodied experience as self-organizing biological entities.


 

Implications and Recommendations:



Recognizing the inherent bias in "system" thinking is crucial for achieving a more accurate understanding of complex phenomena.

Encourages a more nuanced, self-aware, and critical approach to systems thinking.

Suggests further research into the embodied cognition of systems and the neurobiological basis of unlearned behaviors.


 

Quote Highlights:



"It involves what we have termed a "subliminal self-insertion," a phenomenon that fundamentally shapes our perception and understanding of complex entities, often in ways we remain unaware of."

"Language, after all, is not a passive mirror reflecting reality; it is an active force that shapes our perception of it."

"We become predisposed to seek agency and intentionality, even where none exists, leading to an overemphasis on purpose and self-preservation as driving forces."

"The idealized models, while elegant and tractable, often fail to fully capture the messy, irrational, and emotionally driven realities of human economic behavior."

"By unmasking the subliminal "self" in the system, we can strive for a more accurate, less anthropocentric, and ultimately more profound understanding of the complex world around us."


 

Conclusion:

This essay provides a compelling argument that the term "system" carries hidden cognitive biases that can significantly impact our understanding of complex systems. By recognizing and addressing these biases, we can move towards a more nuanced and accurate approach to systems thinking.