Knee Jerk and Gut Reactions: When We Are Not in Control - January 16, 2025

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1. 0:01And
2. 0:09now, words and their stories from VOA Learning English.
3. 0:19In life, some of our decisions and actions are well thought out.
4. 0:26They involve research, examination,
5. 0:30and time for thought.
6. 0:33And other decisions and actions are not well thought out.
7. 0:38We make them quickly without thinking, almost like a pure physical reaction.
8. 0:48We can call these decisions, actions, or reactions knee-jerk.
9. 0:55This term comes from a medical process.
10. 0:57Merriam-Webster defines the noun knee-jerk
11. 1:02as an involuntary forward kick produced by a light blow
12. 1:09on the tendon below the kneecap.
13. 1:13It is an involuntary action.
14. 1:16It's automatic.
15. 1:19The words involuntary and automatic are important when understanding the term knee-jerk.
16. 1:26and when to use it.
17. 1:30Knee-jerk reactions seem to happen automatically without a decision-making process.
18. 1:39We often use knee-jerk as an adjective.
19. 1:44Like hitting your knee cap to move your leg,
20. 1:48knee-jerk reactions or statements also seem like an involuntary reflex.
21. 1:56knee-jerk also describes predictable behavior.
22. 2:02Again, hit the knee and the leg will kick every time.
23. 2:08So knee-jerk describes someone who always reacts quickly and without enough thought.
24. 2:17For example, let's say you are on a team with someone who never faces responsibility for their mistakes
25. 2:25in the game.
26. 2:27If brought to account, the player always blames the dropped ball on other teammates.
27. 2:35You can say that player is having a knee-jerk reaction to criticism.
28. 2:41They have a go-to response.
29. 2:44It's like a reflex they can't control.
30. 2:48We often use knee-jerk in a criticizing or negative way.
31. 2:56Now, a gut reaction also happens without thinking,
32. 3:01but it is a bit different than a knee-jerk response.
33. 3:07A gut reaction is a feeling.
34. 3:11When we have a gut reaction, our instincts are telling us that something may not be right.
35. 3:19Gut reactions are instinctual warnings.
36. 3:24So, we use this expression a bit differently than knee-jerk.
37. 3:30We usually talk about our own gut reactions or impulses, not others.
38. 3:39Here is an example.
39. 3:41One day, I was hiking on a mountain in California.
40. 3:45I had hiked for about two hours, and was near the top.
41. 3:51The view, I was told, was truly beautiful.
42. 3:55I couldn't wait to see it.
43. 3:58Then, suddenly, I had a strange feeling.
44. 4:03Something just didn't feel right.
45. 4:05I can't explain why, But my gut instinct was to turn around and head back down the mountain.
46. 4:14I later found out that a dangerous bear had been sighted in the same area that I had fled.
47. 4:22I am so thankful I listened to my gut instinct.
48. 4:27And that's words and their stories.
49. 4:30Until next time, I'm Anna Matteo.