The concept of visceral refers to what is linked to the viscera.
Visceral is an adjective that refers to that belonging to or relating to the viscera . The viscera, on the other hand, are the organs that are contained in the cavities of the human or animal body.
The viscera, also called entrails , are part of the respiratory system or digestive system, such as the lungs, liver , heart or pancreas . The notion of visceral, therefore, is linked to these organs, although it is usually used in a symbolic way.
The visceral as an intense reaction
The visceral appears linked to a very intense emotional reaction , which springs from the depths of the person's interior (hence this name). It is something that the subject almost cannot avoid, since it is embodied within him and escapes reason or logic.
For example: “There are opponents who feel a visceral hatred towards this government” , “Upon hearing the news, Mario felt a visceral fury take over his being and he began to scream” , “Irma did not expect such a visceral reaction because of part of her husband, who smashed the glass against the wall.”
Lack of control
Visceral reactions usually take place without any type of filter or control. That is why it is common to associate them with violence or outbursts, which often causes deep regret in those who suffer them.
The concept is also used to describe the person who usually gets carried away by this type of reactions or responses : “Lautaro is a visceral man and closed to dialogue” , “I am afraid to tell him the truth: my father is very visceral and I don't believe "that can understand the situation."
A visceral reaction is characterized by intensity and lack of control or filter.
The visceral individual and sincerity
Both spontaneous outbreaks of anger and personalities formed around extreme sincerity escape the behavioral models that society expects to find. In general, we are educated with a series of structures that prevent us from constantly expressing what we feel; we are trained to reserve this degree of openness for certain very particular, very intimate moments. To get through everyday life, people considered normal must use lies and falsehood to (as we have learned) avoid hurting those around us.
We are programmed to leave sincerity as a last resort, and we justify this in many ways: if our employers exploit us and psychologically abuse us, we do not confront them because the economic crisis makes it difficult to find work; If our friends do not support us when we need them most, despite demanding that we be there for them one hundred percent of the time, we say that each one is who they are and that they make up for it with their positive traits.
Violence in behavior
A normal human being fears visceral reactions because he associates them with violence, the taboo subject par excellence, despite being the most characteristic feature of our species: we kill animals in absolutely unnatural ways to eat them, we declare war on other people instead To seek to understand ourselves through what supposedly distinguishes us from the rest of living beings, we cut down trees indiscriminately to immortalize our wisdom... We do all this and are we afraid of those who attack their boss after months without receiving their salary?
It would be interesting to eliminate all our filters, that which truly separates us from the rest of the animals, which prevents us from telling our neighbor that we don't like him and that we don't want to speak to him, the reason why we endure mistreatment from so many. people throughout the day, so much so that we end up stressed and without strength; If we managed to break down those walls, visceral reactions would become the norm .
If the term is related to our organs, to what constitutes us, why not be visceral? In a world without repression , it is very likely that violence would decrease, since no one would accumulate frustrations throughout their lives. If we didn't like the treatment we received at a company, we would express it and leave; we would greet only those we liked; We would be ourselves, without outbreaks, without abuse.