the stuff about oxytocin and the brain is really interesting and everything but I don't see what it really has to do with talking about the characters and the players choices. I mean I'm sure its all true (and it's cool that you added links to sources not many people do that) but i'd bet money the players aren't sitting there thinking oh beau would have trust problems because bad parents means she didn't get enough oxytocin.
Itās very, very relevant. When creators are crafting their characters and those charactersā personalities, behaviors, flaws, and the backstory that all of those things comes from, theyāre not just grabbing ideas about how their characters act and where those behavior come from. Theyāre basing everything on what theyāve observed of human behavior, both in themselves and in others. Yes, itās true, in most cases theyāre probably not thinking about the motivations and behaviors of their characters in terms of the neurology and physiology happening, but they are thinking about the human behavior that theyāve observed, that they know, and some of which they innately understand as being results of certain kinds of events, experiences, relationships, traumas, etc.Ā
So itās relevant in the specific understanding that the personalities, behaviors, and overall characterizations theyāve created are accurate as supported by science. Iām not trying to slam anyone elseās meta or anything like that, but I like to be as complete in my analysis as I can, and for me that means going as far as I can in exploring and examining the things in question. And sometimes that means going all the way into the science of why the things that are happening are happening. In some areas that might not be as relevant, considering this is a fantasy world where science at times might not necessarily apply. But when it comes to things like this, it is relevant and it does apply.Ā
Yeah, Marisha might not be thinkingĀ āBeau has issues with trust because having an insecure relationship with her parents where no trust was offered to her during her formative years caused a lack of oxytocin release and an effect on her amygdala which impacted the way pathways developed, oxytocin release, fear responses, etc. later in lifeā while creating the characterization and backstory. Sheās likely just thinking about it on the level the vast majority of creators do, not thinking too much about the brain chemistry and more just about what sheās learned about human behavior and whatās generally common knowledge and belief in regards to how our personalities and behaviors become what they become. Looking into the brain chemistry, neurology, and psychology is just a way to further answer the questions ofĀ āwhy?ā, showing that the observed human behavior and the created characterization that comes from it is in fact correct and is therefor a very solid basis for that characterization and backstory.Ā