Logical Vs. Emotional -- Where Do You Fall, and What Are the Pros and Cons of Each?

[seoulsearch]

Hey Everyone,

I know this topic probably fits more under Miscellaneous, but most people know I post almost exclusively in Singles. It's just what I'm used to, and we tend to get more traffic here. I also find that the topic at hand affects several aspects of my relationships with people, whether friends, family, or in dating situations.

* If we were trying to measure Logical vs. Emotional Thinking on a scale of 1 (least like you) to 10 (most like you,) where would you fall?

1. On a Logical Thinking Scale of 1 - 10, what score would you give yourself and why? (How much do you gravitate towards "logical" thinking -- thinking based on the facts, reason, math, etc. over how you feel?)

2. On an Emotional Thinking Scale of 1-10, what score would you give yourself and why? (How much do you base your decisions off your emotions rather than logic or facts?)

I think I would rate myself as about a 6-7 Logical, and around an 8-9 Emotional.

One of my own challenges with this is that I find that when I run into highly Logical-Thinking people, we sometimes have a hard time understanding each other because they don't understand why I would work from emotion when logic seems so much more practical.

On the other hand, I've also found that when I run into some highly Emotionally-Based people, they either try to manipulate my emotions, or they are more interested in obtaining emotional highs fueled by others rather than in solving actual problems.

I'm certainly not saying at all that one is better than the other, or that either one is somehow bad or undesirable. After all, I know that I am very much a mix of both and if anything, running into extremes (including myself) reminds me of how important it is to find a working balance that serves both the needs of others and ourselves.

I do have to admit though that I tend to gravitate towards more emotionally-based people, but I would be greatly missing out if God hadn't nudged me towards my more logic-based friends as a balance.

What about you?

* As we were discussing above, which one do you think you lean more towards?

* Are you attracted to more logical or emotional thinkers? Are you attracted to those who think in ways more like you or opposite of you? How does it affect your relationships?

* What are your thoughts of what a good balance is between the two? Do you think some people are fine just leaning almost exclusively on one or the other? Why or why not?

My logical side says, "This could be a very interesting discussion."

But my emotional side says, "I wonder what kinds of problems people have run into when encountering extremes, and how it has affected their hearts."

Which side will win out??!

Contribute your post now to continue fueling my ongoing internal debate!

 

[cinder]

Every logical thinking person will tell you that logical thinking is the best, which is the correct answer, logically. And it totally works until those pesky emotions decide not to listen to logic and completely blindside you

 

[notonmywatch]

Personally, I'd guess that I'm probably a 10 on both scales.

I'm definitely a logical or critical thinker to the extreme, but that logic ultimately moves me emotionally in a strong manner. Not as in I'm a messy blob of jelly who falls apart at the seams while crying his eyes out, but in that I'm a very caring person who has what I believe are "bowels of compassion" like Jesus had/has. If I don't, then shame on me. I say that because I've spent so much time alone with Jesus that I hope that his heart is being formed in me. What I'm trying to say is that my extremely logical mind produces highly emotional caring in me in some sort form or another at all times, so I don't personally see any sort of contrast between the two, but rather a sort of working harmony.

I don't know if any of that makes any sense to others, but that's my honest attempt at an answer.

 

[Cameron143]

It's a great question and one I think reveals a greater need for us to both understand the genesis of emotions and the depth of our own depravity.
If we return to the original scene of earthly crime, we will find ourselves in the garden of Eden. Here Adam and Eve frolicked in a beautiful new creation in the presence of God. It's almost unimaginable the peace and joy they experienced free of sin and its consequences. But...they transgressed and life was forever changed. One of the consequences was the addition of emotions that accompanied the acquisition of knowledge of good and evil. For the first time, fear and shame were experienced which led to making clothes and hiding. Later Cain would experience anger and depression that would result in murder and regret over the consequences of his sin, though not the sin itself.
The introduction of emotions born of sin has hugely complicated the emotional spectrum. For while these emotions are a great indicator of problems, following them tends to lead to sin.
Many see logic as the remedy, but it is not. Sin corrupted man completely. In other words, every aspect of man--mind, heart, and will--were negatively affected. So even were we able to control our emotions, our choice of action would still be impaired by our corrupted reasoning.
So what is the answer? We must be born again. It is only in the new birth that the corruption of sin will ever be altered. 2 Corinthians 5:17...If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation...Being made spiritually alive and guided by the Spirit we find that emotions identify the problem, but TRUTH is what should always guide our response. In this way, our emotions will return to peace and joy.
So, I guess I'm a 10 on emotions and logic so long as the Spirit is an 11 operating in me.

 

[seoulsearch]

It's a great question and one I think reveals a greater need for us to both understand the genesis of emotions and the depth of our own depravity.
If we return to the original scene of earthly crime, we will find ourselves in the garden of Eden. Here Adam and Eve frolicked in a beautiful new creation in the presence of God. It's almost unimaginable the peace and joy they experienced free of sin and its consequences. But...they transgressed and life was forever changed. One of the consequences was the addition of emotions that accompanied the acquisition of knowledge of good and evil. For the first time, fear and shame were experienced which led to making clothes and hiding. Later Cain would experience anger and depression that would result in murder and regret over the consequences of his sin, though not the sin itself.
The introduction of emotions born of sin has hugely complicated the emotional spectrum. For while these emotions are a great indicator of problems, following them tends to lead to sin.
Many see logic as the remedy, but it is not. Sin corrupted man completely. In other words, every aspect of man--mind, heart, and will--were negatively affected. So even were we able to control our emotions, our choice of action would still be impaired by our corrupted reasoning.
So what is the answer? We must be born again. It is only in the new birth that the corruption of sin will ever be altered. 2 Corinthians 5:17...If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation...Being made spiritually alive and guided by the Spirit we find that emotions identify the problem, but TRUTH is what should always guide our response. In this way, our emotions will return to peace and joy.
So, I guess I'm a 10 on emotions and logic so long as the Spirit is an 11 operating in me.

This brings about an excellent point, Cameron.

If we asked God this question, I wonder what His answer would be? On one hand, I would assume that He is a perfect 10 on each side -- and therefore perfectly balanced?

But I have to wonder where the angels would rate on that scale, at least the ones who didn't fall and are still in absolute service to God. I would assume they were each created with their own personalities and thought processes...

So if the remaining angels in heaven are perfect, sinless beings, would they also be a perfect 10 in each category, or would there be some variances, but in each case, the angels are able to overrule any logic or emotion that might cloud their decisions, and so they go on to obey in perfect service anyway?

I'll have to put that on my list of endless questions I would like to ask God (hopefully face-to-face) someday.

 

[Lynx]

"Logic is an important tool, perhaps the most important tool. But it is not the only tool."

- Spock

Logic is incredibly useful. But there are other tools that work well where logic is useless.

 

[Cameron143]

This brings about an excellent point, Cameron.

If we asked God this question, I wonder what His answer would be? On one hand, I would assume that He is a perfect 10 on each side -- and therefore perfectly balanced?

But I have to wonder where the angels would rate on that scale, at least the ones who didn't fall and are still in absolute service to God. I would assume they were each created with their own personalities and thought processes...

So if the remaining angels in heaven are perfect, sinless beings, would they also be a perfect 10 in each category, or would there be some variances, but in each case, the angels are able to overrule any logic or emotion that might cloud their decisions, and so they go on to obey in perfect service anyway?

I'll have to put that on my list of endless questions I would like to ask God (hopefully face-to-face) someday.

I hadn't given any thought to the condition of angels and you are correct, it is an interesting question to explore. Feel free to let me know what you find.

 

[Lynx]

Even the identity matrix doesn't work right here.

 

[Cameron143]

View attachment 246608


Even the identity matrix doesn't work right here.

That second one looks like a pronoun someone might use today.

 

[G00WZ]

I am neither overly logical or emotional but highly introspective which gets me labeled as logical because im more controlled and self aware.

When i come across highly emotional reacting people i understand the mindset can either build or destroy a person because im somewhat versed in how the soul works in a person. Sometimes i just watch in both amusement and amazement at how some people can just blow around in the wind reacting to things while being unaware of what they're changing into. An example is like with this covid thing, look at how many people just fell off depressed,fearful and became as the content that they witnessed... A lot of the time with people is they don't want to change and their addicted to the emotional pain so you can't help them unless they help themselves.
Sometimes with those who are beyond listening i'll just watch from afar making predictions and seeing how far they'll take it. They might not learn from their mistakes but i will.

I have no type that i like best, i feel like if i link up with the right people i can have the best of all worlds.

For me personally i believe in growth emotionally and in thought because if i don't know how to control them they'll rise up against me or be used against me by someone who is wiser.

 

[Dino246]

I'm logical, therefore I don't fall.

 

[Lynx]

Hmm, yes... GOOWZ mentions a good point.

"Emotional" doesn't necessarily mean a person who flies apart at any little thing. That kind of person may show a lot of emotion, but not understand it very well and still be a low rating on the 1-10 emotional scale.

 

[Gojira]

Hey Everyone,

I know this topic probably fits more under Miscellaneous, but most people know I post almost exclusively in Singles. It's just what I'm used to, and we tend to get more traffic here. I also find that the topic at hand affects several aspects of my relationships with people, whether friends, family, or in dating situations.

* If we were trying to measure Logical vs. Emotional Thinking on a scale of 1 (least like you) to 10 (most like you,) where would you fall?

1. On a Logical Thinking Scale of 1 - 10, what score would you give yourself and why? (How much do you gravitate towards "logical" thinking -- thinking based on the facts, reason, math, etc. over how you feel?)

2. On an Emotional Thinking Scale of 1-10, what score would you give yourself and why? (How much do you base your decisions off your emotions rather than logic or facts?)

I think I would rate myself as about a 6-7 Logical, and around an 8-9 Emotional.

One of my own challenges with this is that I find that when I run into highly Logical-Thinking people, we sometimes have a hard time understanding each other because they don't understand why I would work from emotion when logic seems so much more practical.

On the other hand, I've also found that when I run into some highly Emotionally-Based people, they either try to manipulate my emotions, or they are more interested in obtaining emotional highs fueled by others rather than in solving actual problems.

I'm certainly not saying at all that one is better than the other, or that either one is somehow bad or undesirable. After all, I know that I am very much a mix of both and if anything, running into extremes (including myself) reminds me of how important it is to find a working balance that serves both the needs of others and ourselves.

I do have to admit though that I tend to gravitate towards more emotionally-based people, but I would be greatly missing out if God hadn't nudged me towards my more logic-based friends as a balance.

What about you?

* As we were discussing above, which one do you think you lean more towards?

* Are you attracted to more logical or emotional thinkers? Are you attracted to those who think in ways more like you or opposite of you? How does it affect your relationships?

* What are your thoughts of what a good balance is between the two? Do you think some people are fine just leaning almost exclusively on one or the other? Why or why not?

My logical side says, "This could be a very interesting discussion."

But my emotional side says, "I wonder what kinds of problems people have run into when encountering extremes, and how it has affected their hearts."

Which side will win out??!

Contribute your post now to continue fueling my ongoing internal debate!

What is this, a contest? Do I win a car or a new kitchen?

I would say, without having thought about this deeply, that logic in general should be the determining factor in decision-making. Emotions come and go with the wind... with that you ate that day or how much sleep you got or how hormonal you are at this moment. Emotions feel potent, but are unstable and therefore, unreliable.

I don't say ignore them. Sometimes, they're based on real issues that need to be addressed or celebrated. And, they make us feel alive. All logic and we're nothing more than machines.

But, emotions are not a good gauge, in my opinion, for setting policy or making personal decisions.

This all being said, I'm a very passionate man, and need to fight myself sometimes to make sure that reason rules the day.

 

[Lynx]

Me, I'm about a 7 on the logical scale. I seem to be reasonably intelligent, but I know plenty of people smarter than I.

I'd say I'm about a 4 emotionally. I'm aware that emotions factor in, but I'm not too good with using them. And don't get disappointed if I don't show them. I'm much more likely to analyze something than feel it. But at least I'm aware of emotions around me.

 

[Lanolin]

arrgh this is a question pyschiatrists ask when charging you $100 an hour while you attempt to figure it out.

 

[Lynx]

arrgh this is a question pyschiatrists ask when charging you $100 an hour while you attempt to figure it out.

Then consider this a great bargain. This time you're getting it for free.

 

[Runningman]

For me logic is most useful, but it's also logical to relate to people and situations using emotional thinking if that can produce the best possible outcome. Some highly logical people are just out of touch with their emotions and that gives them a disadvantage in my opinion.

The human element isn't always logical and predictable. So emotions are not falsifiable because emotional experience is subjective. That's a great strength for highly emotional thinking people.

Logical thinking people who fail to validate how someone else's emotions influence their worldview have kinda missed the point and will lose many opportunities because of it. Logical people tend to do well in STEM fields where outcomes are easily reproduced using standardized rules.

 

[Lanolin]

I remember doing introduction to Philosophy 101 at university and studying logic.

If THEN clauses.
Also in library studies we did Boolean logic, using operators like AND, OR and NOT

This is to help when searching through thousands if not millions of data/catalog records.

So you could say librarians have a very logical frame of mind when it comes to information retrieval. However, the human element, because we are not robots, is more emotion based for example am looking for a book that makes me happy. Or because I like the cover. Can I have the blue book please. I dont care what its about !

Reading people, as opposed to just words, is emotions based. However we must recongnise feelings come and go and are not permanent fixtures. The blue cover fades, the covers change over time, something that makes me happy at one stage may not always make me happy the next.

I hope this answers your question Dr Seoul, please dont make me rate from 1-10 my mood though.

 

[Sculpt]

Hey Everyone,

I know this topic probably fits more under Miscellaneous, but most people know I post almost exclusively in Singles. It's just what I'm used to, and we tend to get more traffic here. I also find that the topic at hand affects several aspects of my relationships with people, whether friends, family, or in dating situations.

* If we were trying to measure Logical vs. Emotional Thinking on a scale of 1 (least like you) to 10 (most like you,) where would you fall?

1. On a Logical Thinking Scale of 1 - 10, what score would you give yourself and why? (How much do you gravitate towards "logical" thinking -- thinking based on the facts, reason, math, etc. over how you feel?)

2. On an Emotional Thinking Scale of 1-10, what score would you give yourself and why? (How much do you base your decisions off your emotions rather than logic or facts?)

I think I would rate myself as about a 6-7 Logical, and around an 8-9 Emotional.

One of my own challenges with this is that I find that when I run into highly Logical-Thinking people, we sometimes have a hard time understanding each other because they don't understand why I would work from emotion when logic seems so much more practical.

On the other hand, I've also found that when I run into some highly Emotionally-Based people, they either try to manipulate my emotions, or they are more interested in obtaining emotional highs fueled by others rather than in solving actual problems.

I'm certainly not saying at all that one is better than the other, or that either one is somehow bad or undesirable. After all, I know that I am very much a mix of both and if anything, running into extremes (including myself) reminds me of how important it is to find a working balance that serves both the needs of others and ourselves.

I do have to admit though that I tend to gravitate towards more emotionally-based people, but I would be greatly missing out if God hadn't nudged me towards my more logic-based friends as a balance.

What about you?

* As we were discussing above, which one do you think you lean more towards?

* Are you attracted to more logical or emotional thinkers? Are you attracted to those who think in ways more like you or opposite of you? How does it affect your relationships?

* What are your thoughts of what a good balance is between the two? Do you think some people are fine just leaning almost exclusively on one or the other? Why or why not?

My logical side says, "This could be a very interesting discussion."

But my emotional side says, "I wonder what kinds of problems people have run into when encountering extremes, and how it has affected their hearts."

Which side will win out??!

Contribute your post now to continue fueling my ongoing internal debate!

Great topic! But I think I need a little more info...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you give three examples of Emotional Thinking in your OP: 1. trying to manipulate other's emotions, 2. trying to obtain emotional highs rather than in solving actual problems, 3. an emotional thinker tends to wonder what kind of heart damage someone has taken as a result of going through extremes.

With those three examples, and just in general, I'm not quite clear what Emotional Thinking is. Could you maybe define it and give a few examples for some of us more challenged folk? Thanks!

 

[seoulsearch]

Great topic! But I think I need a little more info...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you give three examples of Emotional Thinking in your OP: 1. trying to manipulate other's emotions, 2. trying to obtain emotional highs rather than in solving actual problems, 3. an emotional thinker tends to wonder what kind of heart damage someone has taken as a result of going through extremes.

With those three examples, and just in general, I'm not quite clear what Emotional Thinking is. Could you maybe define it and give a few examples for some of us more challenged folk? Thanks!

Hi Sculpt,

I actually think the definitions are a bit fluid and most definitely subjective. What I call Emotional Thinking might not be what someone else will see it as.

For my own purposes, I see it as someone who tends to default to their emotions more than logic. Something like, "I know this person is bad for me, but I feel better when I'm not alone," and so they can't let go of a toxic relationship. Whereas a more logical thinker might be satisfied with knowing that this situation just isn't good for them, and that's enough motivation to cut it off. In the past, my more emotional side used to win, but that has changed over time.

I think it also varies by personality and situations. I'm someone who was raised in an atmosphere that stressed delayed gratification, so when I see something I think is kind of cool that I'd like to own but isn't really a necessity, I generally don't have a problem passing it up. My logical thinking says, Nah, you really don't need that. It would just be more clutter and you can add the money to your savings instead.

Whereas a more emotional response to that situation might be, "But... buying this will make me feel better. I've worked hard, and I deserve to treat myself!" And there's nothing wrong with that under the right conditions of course. And a more emotionally-thinking person might even see this as logical thinking for themselves, reasoning that, "This thing will improve my present mental condition and is cheaper than therapy, therefore, it is worth the cost."

What would your own definitions of logical vs. emotional thinking be?

Once you have an idea of how you've seen or experienced these things in your own life, feel free to go from there.