The Ultimate Cause of the January 6th Uprising

Many reasons are being offered to explain the motives for the violent behavior at the Capitol, but none come close to understanding the essential cause.

We’ve been programed by our basic brain chemistry, and one neurochemical in particular, to respond reflexively to activities interpreted by our instincts as crucial to our survival. Sex insured perpetuation of the species. Fascination with novelty, and risk-taking expanded our exposure to new human potentials. An attraction to sugary and fatty tastes might put weight on to make it through the scarcity of food during a scare the winter. Readiness to participate in conflict and violence could protect a tribe or allow the tribe to expand its power and territory.

To guarantee humans would continuously repeat these actions, we have always been rewarded with a fix of dopamine. It is the brain chemical, primarily manufactured right between our ears that. When levels are high enough, dopamine delivers thinking, feelings, and behavior, similar to amphetamines and cocaine. And, like its street drug cousins, amphetamines, and cocaine, it is also highly addictive, creating a need for ever greater doses of dopamine, to reach a higher high, or just to feel okay.

Our attractions to sex, novelty, curiosity, risk-taking, fattening foods, and, yes, conflict, as seen on January 6th, are still top of the list of behaviors to which we’re drawn, even addicted. We want those highs dopamine predictably delivers, and now in our culture, access to conflict, sex, novelty, and risk- taking, are only a click away on our computer or television, and an infinite supply of high-calorie foods are as close as the nearest corner convenience market.

Without having a name for it, and certainly no understanding the dangers of red-lining dopamine , humanity has become hooked on the feel-good sensations of this amphetamine, cocaine, substitute. The January 6th disaster was proof of what can happen when crowds, stirred by passion, malice, fear, and anger launch into novel, high-risk, conflict are rewarded with delirious amounts of dopamine. Access to the modern, thinking brain, where analytical, cause and effect thinking, emotional management and empathy are blocked by this neurochemical. Too much dopamine, and we lose our humanity.

Good examples of this were several participants, later interviewed after coming down from the dopamine high of the event, who were genuinely puzzled by their own behavior. Unfortunately, having experienced the exhilaration of the mob, the majority may be seeking their next hit, because, like drug or alcohol addiction, being without the substance can cause depression, physical discomfort, and consequently, unhealthy, dangerous activities in the search of another big fix.

What would have to be known about dopamine to maintain it at beneficial levels, is relatively little. In the right quantities it keeps us balanced, functioning with the right amount of energy, interest and focus to think and behave productively. Warning signs of unhealthy amounts of dopamine can initially be red flagged by fast, shallow breathing. As, amounts continue to increase, we take on the characteristics of battlefield combatants, with tunnel vision, selective hearing, rapid heartbeats, diminishing common sense and basic, good judgement. At that point, humans are lost to the herd mentality, to an extent that we can gleefully deface or destroy the Capitol of the United States and threaten the lives of its leaders.

Participants in conflict, personal or collective, are being dominated by out-of-control neurochemistry that has been hijacked by leadership stimulating dopamine fueled behavior, or circumstances of the

moment. Knowing that those are the straightforward dynamics of war, gang violence and volatile disputes, it seems likely if understood, most would prefer different actions leading to beneficial outcomes, of their own choosing.