HALLIE EPHRON: Our guest today, Elaine Johnson, started out as a teacher of serious literature (Shakespeare, Milton...), went on to become a college dean, and along the way became intrigued by the workings of the brain. After twenty years of research and lecturing on the brain, her book, “A Beginner’s Guide to the Brain: Major Discoveries that Will Change Your Life,” comes out today.
** And right here, on Jungle Red, we're giving away a copy of the book to one of today's commenters!
Coincidentally, a literature class Elaine is teaching right now focuses on our very own Julia Spencer-Fleming's work. Elaine, how did that happen?
ELAINE JOHNSON: It was requested, not surprisingly, by an Episcopal church as part of their education program. They chose all of Julia Spencer-Fleming’s books over Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale and The Tempest. I was happy with the choice because Julia’s treatment of the same characters through many books allows us to explore why mystery can be first-rate literature.
At the first meeting, it became evident that people welcome an opportunity to read mysteries. We agreed that after this term, we’ll survey a variety of modern mystery writers. Jungle Red provides a great foundation for a syllabus.
HALLIE: We're happy to hear that! So, what do you think it is about the human brain that makes us such suckers for mystery novels?
ELAINE: Certainly one reason the brain favors mystery novels is its deep, biological need to find meaning. Disturbed by unexplained events and randomness, the brain arbitrarily assigns them meaning. In its quest for meaning, it constantly searches for patterns and order. Murder mysteries satisfy the brain’s desire to make patterns, explain randomness, and in so doing find meaning.
HALLIE: Elaine, are there any discoveries or insights that would help us write more convincing villains.
ELAINE: Brain research suggests that convincing villains could be driven by deep emotion that blinds reason, a willingness to do anything to belong to a group it values, anger at being improperly valued—of losing status by being demeaned in some way--a desire to experience again and again the pleasurable feeling that is the brain’s reward whenever we do something it likes, and unwavering certainty that one’s beliefs are absolutely right, reasonable, and a reliable guide.
HALLIE: What about the mystery writer’s characters? Does the brain seem to prefer some kinds of characters over others?
ELAINE: Brain research suggests that three things especially incline the brain to like certain kinds of characters.
First, the need to belong: The brain is a social organ; it longs for and requires the company of other brains. When we do not belong—when we feel rejected, ignored, or reprimanded—we experience the same hurt that physical pain causes. Two brain regions respond to physical pain. The same two regions respond to social pain. This means that if the reader watches a protagonist who belongs--who has compassion or insight that connects her with others--then the reader will identify readily with that protagonist.
Second, mirror neurons: Mirror neurons cause us to identify with characters. These neurons have a unique double function. They fire when we do something—when we perform an action or feel an emotion, and they fire when we watch someone else perform an action or feel an emotion. Mirror neurons cause us to perform in our brain the action or feeling we observe. When we observe a protagonist think, feel, or act, our brain’s mirror neurons fire, linking us with that protagonist.
Third, morality: A moral sense is rooted in the design of the human brain. Genes dispose our brains to make moral distinctions. The brain’s innate disposition to judge human actions as either right or wrong, moral or immoral, helps explain the appeal of mystery novels. Mystery novels portray a moral universe where wrong-doing is punished. When bad guys are punished by protagonists they admire, the reader’s moral brain is happy.
HALLIE: That's so interesting -- I wonder if it also explains why we tend to be attracted to people (and dogs) that look like us!
And finally, how do you think mystery writers get it right about the way the brain works?
ELAINE: Mystery writers of drama and novels get a lot right. They have long intuited the things that brain research confirms.
They are especially good at recognizing that the brain is unreasonable. Research now proves that the brain is governed far more by emotion than reason. In fact, the brain so embraces emotion that it may adopt an idea for emotional reasons and then-- after the fact--look for reasons to justify that stand. Or it may ignore evidence that contradicts that stand. Emotion will trump reason.
Driven by emotion in the guise of reason, a person may in the name of religion or ideology hate entire groups, and that hatred can drive someone to attack any member of that group.
HALLIE: Reading Elaine's answers, I immediately want to know: are men's brains and women's brains wired differently? But maybe she'll tell us what she thinks in the comments.
Don't forget, we're giving away a book to one of today's commenters. Elaine will be checking back in today to answer questions and comments, so please, ask away! Don't forget, we'll be giving away a copy of the book to one randomly drawn commenter!