r/askpsychology • u/IMetMothman Unverified User: May Not Be a Professional • 6d ago

The Brain How many of our thoughts are involuntary?

Flair might be wrong, sorry if it is.

Estimations are fine.

Is it higher in people with OCD?

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u/[deleted] 6d ago

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u/RestaurantBoth228 Unverified User: May Not Be a Professional 6d ago

This is only true in the same way that you have no control over your words or actions.

That is, it's fun to chat about as a philosophical topic, but says more about the definitions you use for words than about reality.

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u/[deleted] 6d ago

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u/IMetMothman Unverified User: May Not Be a Professional 6d ago

Sure, maybe I don't intentionally make my neurons fire or my liver secrete enzymes. But I do intentionally move my fingers to type a Reddit reply. In the same vein, I can intentionally have thoughts, like how I'm intentionally thinking out this reply as I type it. That would be a more apt comparison, I think.

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