Knee Jerk and Gut Reactions: When We Are Not in Control
2025-01-19
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1And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.
2In life, some of our decisions and actions are well thought out.
3They involve research, examination, and time for thought.
4And other decisions and actions are not well thought out.
5We make them quickly, without thinking, almost like a pure physical reaction.
6We can call these decisions, actions or reactions knee-jerk.
7This term comes from a medical process.
8Meriam Webster defines the noun "knee jerk" as "an involuntary forward kick produced by a light blow on the tendon below the kneecap."
9It is an involuntary action. It's automatic.
10The words "involuntary" and "automatic" are important when understanding the term "knee jerk" and when to use it.
11Knee-jerk reactions seem to happen automatically without a decision-making process.
12We often use "knee jerk" as an adjective.
13Like hitting your kneecap to move your leg, knee-jerk reactions or statements also seem like an involuntary reflex.
14"Knee jerk" also describes predictable behavior.
15Again, hit the knee, the leg will kick every time.
16So "knee jerk" describes someone who always reacts quickly and without enough thought.
17For example, let's say you are on a team with someone who never faces responsibility for their mistakes in the game.
18If brought to account, the player always blames the dropped ball on other teammates.
19You can say that player is having a knee-jerk reaction to criticism.
20They have a go-to response. It's like a reflex they can't control.
21We often use knee-jerk in a criticizing or negative way.
22Now, a gut reaction also happens without thinking.
23But it is a bit different than a knee-jerk response.
24A gut reaction is a feeling. When we have a gut reaction, our instincts are telling us that something may not be right.
25Gut reactions are instinctual warnings.
26So, we also use this expression a bit differently than "knee jerk."
27We usually talk about our own gut reactions or impulses, not others.
28Here is an example:
29One day, I was hiking on a mountain in California.
30I had hiked for about two hours and was near the top.
31The view, I was told, was truly beautiful.
32I couldn't wait to see it!
33Then, suddenly, I had a strange feeling.
34Something just didn't feel right.
35I can't explain why, but my gut instinct was to turn around and head back down the mountain.
36I later found out that a dangerous bear had been sighted in the same area that I had fled.
37I am so thankful I listened to my gut instinct.
38And that's Words and Their Stories. Until next time, I'm Anna Matteo.
1And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English. 2In life, some of our decisions and actions are well thought out. They involve research, examination, and time for thought. And other decisions and actions are not well thought out. We make them quickly, without thinking, almost like a pure physical reaction. 3We can call these decisions, actions or reactions knee-jerk. 4This term comes from a medical process. Meriam Webster defines the noun "knee jerk" as "an involuntary forward kick produced by a light blow on the tendon below the kneecap." It is an involuntary action. It's automatic. 5The words "involuntary" and "automatic" are important when understanding the term "knee jerk" and when to use it. Knee-jerk reactions seem to happen automatically without a decision-making process. 6We often use "knee jerk" as an adjective. 7Like hitting your kneecap to move your leg, knee-jerk reactions or statements also seem like an involuntary reflex. 8"Knee jerk" also describes predictable behavior. Again, hit the knee, the leg will kick every time. So "knee jerk" describes someone who always reacts quickly and without enough thought. 9For example, let's say you are on a team with someone who never faces responsibility for their mistakes in the game. If brought to account, the player always blames the dropped ball on other teammates. You can say that player is having a knee-jerk reaction to criticism. They have a go-to response. It's like a reflex they can't control. 10We often use knee-jerk in a criticizing or negative way. 11Now, a gut reaction also happens without thinking. But it is a bit different than a knee-jerk response. A gut reaction is a feeling. When we have a gut reaction, our instincts are telling us that something may not be right. Gut reactions are instinctual warnings. 12So, we also use this expression a bit differently than "knee jerk." We usually talk about our own gut reactions or impulses, not others. 13Here is an example: 14One day, I was hiking on a mountain in California. I had hiked for about two hours and was near the top. The view, I was told, was truly beautiful. I couldn't wait to see it! Then, suddenly, I had a strange feeling. Something just didn't feel right. I can't explain why, but my gut instinct was to turn around and head back down the mountain. I later found out that a dangerous bear had been sighted in the same area that I had fled. I am so thankful I listened to my gut instinct. 15And that's Words and Their Stories. Until next time, I'm Anna Matteo. 16Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English. 17__________________________________________ 18Words in This Story 19involuntary -adj. not normally under the control of the will 20automatic -adj. largely or wholly involuntary :acting or done without conscious thought or intention 21reflex -n. an automatic response to a stimulus in which a nerve message passes from a sense organ to the spinal cord and then to a point of action (as a muscle or gland) often without first passing to the brain 22negative -adj. not positive or helpful 23instinct -n. behavior that is based on automatic actions