The fast version is: Psychopaths were the last human breed pre-civilization. A mutation occurred, forcing a human (and eventually most of them) into mandatory emotional recall. Not only can your rational mind remember your emotions, but you must feel them as you remember things. Now you have two pathways to every memory, the logical (conscious) mind, AND the emotional (subconscious) metamind. The metamind is a more specific name for both the subconscious and the conscience. They are the same thing.
So now when I say ‘basketball’ or show you a picture of a tree, you mind can access memories relating to this two ways. The logical conscious pathways or the emotions associated with that tree (which you immediately feel to a small degree) This forms a passively driven risk engine. Lets say you broke your arm in that type of tree (or playing basketball), or that’s a memory from the day your parents were divorced, when you remember that thing you also logically reference that important memory. The negative emotion from the tree (danger) now activates ALL memories (via the subconscious) with the same negative emotion.
Via MRI psychopaths do not have this secondary mind. That’s why they don’t feel guilt.
That’s how someone can have a panic attack, that’s how propaganda can be used to manipulate you, that’s how gaslighting can drive you mad, that’s how you can feel an outpouring of emotion for someone you have never met simply because they look like someone else, etc, etc.
The conscience is specifically, mandatory emotional recall. Caused by the civgene mutation.
Why is this PITA a genetic advantage? Cause logic doesn’t scale, and the conscience is REALLY fast. Effectively instantaneous. That ‘oh ****’ moment you feel in a local bar, or hunting a mammoth, can save your life.
The key is managing it’s side effects (uncontrollable, unexplainable, perhaps destructive emotions) is reason. Reason is the process of using logical mind to rationalize and eventually personally normalize and tune the messages from the conscience.
The best part though is the side effect. We all trust each other more. We strive for normalcy and feed off each others emotions. Without that, currency, investment and the economy of scale would not be possible. Why plant seeds (and be stuck in one spot) and tend to them when a psychopath can walk right into your hut rape you, kill you (even worse keep and enslave you), eat all your food and then move on to the next hut. You trust that the men (and women) in your village will hear the ruckus and protect you. They recognize the risks of failed investments effect the whole village.
Kinda funny since lots of guilt is about money. Heh.