We humans act and make judgments because of our Hemisphere system .Based on Psychology, the right side of our brain reacts without thinking. In contrast, the left side of the brain looks at different angles before making any judgments. According to Leowentein, the right hemisphere can be referred as Hot States and the left side can be referred as the Cold States.
What would you say, if I told you that someone who seems certain and happy with life could commit a crime such as robbery, homicide or suicide etc...? Many would say, that would never be them. During a Hot States scenario; Emotions, Judgment skills, and thinking ability are not existed. According to Wikipedia/Chris _Benoit murder suicide. Chris Benoit was best known as a famous weslter, NFL player who let the hot states get the best of him. Chris Benoit killed his wife named Nancy Benoit, and strangled his seven year old son. One question that kept asking, why did he do it? I believe even Chris Benoit Wouldn’t have an answer to that question. According to Leowentein Hot States can be influenced by fear, anxiety, drugs craving, and the like. In Chris Benoit case it is safe to say his hot states were a result of the combination of drugs craving, and anxiety. But based on police investigation, they discovered that Chris Benoit had over use the drug known as steroid. The decision to take the steroid may have to do with insecurity, how he looked. Chris Benoit in the surface seemed calm, self- secured, but under all the smiles it is a miserable Chris Benoit battling with Life. He wasn’t as happy as people perceived him to be. Taking the steroid cost him his family’s life and his life also. Hot state can make you feel good in the moment but have bad outcome.
Have you ever being influenced to smoke by your friends? I have, my best friend used to smoke cigarettes every single day, or should I say every two to three hours a day. I tried to resist every time they asked me to take a puff. Sometimes, all my five friends are smoking, and I am the only one who doesn’t. I think beyond the moment, and reflect to what the negative impact would be. All my friends play soccer, and they all have the common dream, the dream to become a soccer player if the opportunity comes along. I am no different. Professional soccer players are not allowed to smoke, because to play the sport you need to be in the best health you can be. If during the physical they have found any lung diseases, my dream might crushed just because I smoked those cigarettes that my friends offered. I also have a goal in life to live for numerous years, and a happier life in the years to come. I am not sure my friends are sharing that same type of goal. In the cold state my happiness may not come in the short time, but I will live a happier life than my friends that smokes in twenty years or less from now. I don’t want my decision of smoking in the moment be the barrier to achieve my goals, and live with regrets. The good of the cold state is that making a wise decision today have it reward tomorrow although the good of your decisions doesn’t show instantly.
In General, hot states and cold states have two types of outcomes of our decisions making. My understanding of Lowenstein’s philosophy is that Hot states is the pleasure you get in that instant. The happiness that you are experiencing, the like, or the anxiety you get from the moment and unable to make a wise decision, a decision that may have negative impact to our happiness. As for the cold states we are more cautious with our decisions making process because you are aware of the negative impact in the future. Which happiness do you preferred? Instant happiness or the happiness that comes later in life?
