From the Gut

Our gut serves many functions in our modern-day life. We need to pay attention to our “gut biome” to make sure our internal plumbing works correctly. When something shocks us, it can serve as a “gut punch” or be “gut wrenching.” If we need to get something off our chest, we can “spill our guts.” It can be said we need to “have the guts” to face adversity or take on new challenges.

From a social work perspective, I am most familiar with “gut instinct” or “listen to your gut.” But what does that mean? What is a “gut instinct?”

It is often thought of as that sixth sense that imparts wisdom our conscious mind cannot access. It sometimes feels like a mystical, omnipresent, sage entity that helps guide us to make helpful and useful decisions.

But is that what is really going on?

Most people in the psychological/mental health field would likely say it has more to do with the intersection of our unconscious mind and the brain’s way of making decisions based on how we organize the world around us.

Psychologist Jean Piaget theorized that the way we organize our world and life experiences is through the framework of schemas. We are born with basic schemas but as we grow, our schemas adjust and adapt to the sensory information and knowledge we acquire.

In a nutshell, schemas help us manage all our experiences and sensory input throughout our entire life in an easily accessible and organized system.

So, what does this have to do with our “gut instinct?”

I would argue, our schemas ARE our gut instincts. Yet, why do we not realize that is what is happening? Because our schemas are super-efficient and utilize minimal energy. That is why they are so effective. Our brain learns quickly, and it learns thoroughly.

Ok, so if schemas are our gut talking to us through our unconscious mind, does that mean they are always right (this is where the mystical sage piece comes in)? That is a little more complicated.

The simple answer then is it depends. It depends on what we have experienced and through what lens or perspective we have processed those experiences. Sometimes schemas we develop are based on childhood trauma or difficult experiences. Sometimes our schemas may be re-enforced by joyful experiences. Sometimes schemas can just be neutral.

For example, if I have dated 4 people in my life with 3 being blondes. Maybe all 3 of the blonde men cheated on me. I may develop a schema based on that information. (Remember this is all happening with incredible speed and often outside our conscious mind.) Therefore, when I meet a new potential partner and he’s blonde, my “gut” may send me warning signals that this is not a good situation. Conversely if I have a schema that Christmas holidays are magical, but my husband’s family’s holidays were not, when his family invites us over, my “gut” may tell me it’s a great thing to do, even if he is saying no, it isn’t.

Does that mean I am just powerless to my unconscious schemas and should ignore my gut? Absolutely not. What this all means is having this knowledge of where our schemas and “gut instincts” come from helps us feel like we have more power over our emotions and responses. Being thoughtful, mindful and curious about why we are feeling or behaving the way we do is the first step to having control of it.