Age?

It is sad but true that the mind does things of its own accord. A simple example that demonstates this is when in hospital being fed automatically your brain still “thinks” its hungry as it has not eaten, regardless of how well nourished the body actually is. Other examples are feeling tired when it gets dark even if you have only been awake a few hours, or waking up after one hours sleep refreshed and revitalised. The brain formulates individual habits as it ages, and this is why people who have dementia never starve to death because they forget to eat and drink.

We dont think about breathing but we do it, we see a physically attractive person and are aroused regardless of whether we are happily in a relationship or not. Do not EVER under-estimate the power of the brain.

This is why some people can be hypnotised, or fall prey to “psychics” that can read minds, the people playing the “tricks” are just confusing and persuading the mind and manipulating it externally. You will find that those that have faith are more likely to be “persuaded” compared to the more sceptical mind, although there is no hard and fast rule.

There is loads of information on the internet regarding psychology, and even games designers use some techniques to gather more revenues, from simple carrot and stick methods to more subtle things such as in game advertising. Children are VERY likely to gather information from product placement without even realising it, but an adult will see a can of coke in the background and his brain will realise that its an advert as there is no reason to place a can labelled coke in a game. Even using the colourschemes of a brand can be used to “persuade” people one way or another.

Glad this in off-topic forums as I am waffling…

Just to finish off as I remembered this…
A test was done in in the 1970′s where a baby (days old) and an adult were subjected to television and film soundtracks from different genres from love stories to horror. Both parties were measured for body temperature, breathing rate, pulse and perspiration. Regardless of what was occuring the baby reacted exactly the same, however the adult showed massive variation depending on what was being listened to. This shows that bodily functions are linked to emotional reactions created by external sources. If you want to make someone affraid, turn off the lights lower the temperature and make unfamiliar noises, likewise you want to make someone feel more content, make them warm give them good lighting and play familiar sounds such as voices or music they recognise. The individual has less control over themselves than they actually realise, or care to admit :D People such as http://derrenbrown.co.uk/ utilise the human failures to either entertain others or for more dubvious motivation.

• This reply was modified 130 days ago by  GMPathy.

I doubt its the air, more likely the British Ale and Scottish Malt Whisky :D