Your feeling of guilt or wrongdoing after killing an insect can be largely attributed to a specific part of the brain called mirror neurons.
Understanding the Feeling of Wrongdoing
Often, we associate feelings of guilt or wrongdoing with significant actions affecting other humans. However, the same feeling of wrongdoing applies to insects, small rodents, and sometimes inanimate objects, even though these instances are far less severe than actions like murder, which is universally frowned upon. This phenomenon suggests a deeper neurological basis for our reactions to causing harm or destruction, regardless of the target's complexity.
The Role of Mirror Neurons
According to research, this phenomenon – the feeling of wrongdoing that extends to creatures like insects and even inanimate objects – can be largely attributed to a part of the brain discovered in the early 1990s known as Mirror Neurons. While the exact mechanisms are complex, mirror neurons are generally understood to be involved in empathy and understanding the intentions and actions of others by firing both when we perform an action and when we observe someone else performing the same action. Their suggested role here indicates they might contribute to our internal processing of causing 'harm' or ending a life, triggering a response that we interpret as guilt.
Scope of the Phenomenon
Based on the attribution to mirror neurons, the feeling of wrongdoing isn't solely reserved for human interactions. This same neural mechanism is thought to influence our feelings towards:
- Insects
- Small rodents
- Sometimes inanimate objects
This broad application highlights how certain brain functions can elicit emotional responses across a wide range of interactions, explaining why a seemingly minor act like killing an insect can sometimes trigger a sense of guilt or unease.
