a baseline propensity or way of behaving

English translation: one’s typical or expected conduct

12:56 May 16, 2019
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Linguistics / transformation of a state into a trait thanks to meditation
English term or phrase: a baseline propensity or way of behaving
Dear colleagues,
I’m not completely sure that I’ve got it right: in the phrase “a baseline propensity or way of behaving” in the second part of the passage below (taken from a text on meditation), it seems to me that “baseline” refers to both propensity and way of behaving, and the “or” is used in non-disjunctive way: a baseline propensity and a baseline way of behaving. Might it be that in this case “baseline”, if referred to both nouns, means “habitual”?

Thank you very much for your help!

****************************

Intention is a mental process that sets the tone or direction of the unfolding of energy and information within the mind. Kind intention facilitates the arising of integrative mental processes—like empathic concern and compassion—and makes them more likely to be enacted within us and in our behavior interacting with the world, in our inner and inter mind. When we train a state of kind intention, we harness particular patterns in the brain that research reveals are integrative—they link widely separated regions to each other, enabling the coordination and balance of neural firing. When we exercise those neural networks of kindness, we strengthen their connections and make those trained states become traits of kind intention in our lives.

As we’ve seen, regular practice supports the movement from a state created during a practice to a trait that becomes a learned skill or way of being. A trait essentially is *** a baseline propensity or way of behaving *** that happens without effort or conscious planning in a person’s life. In my own personal experience, clinical work with patients, and educational interactions with workshop participants, and also found in the research on numerous subjects from a broad set of carefully conducted studies, the following has been observed: What you create in the moment can become strengthened in the long run with practice . This is how a state becomes a trait.
haribert
Local time: 10:44
Selected answer:one’s typical or expected conduct
Explanation:
See comment in discussion box.
Selected response from:

Robert Forstag
United States
Local time: 05:44
Grading comment
Thank you so much, Robert, for your valuable help! Many thanks also to Lincoln for his interesting remarks and to all other participants for their contribution!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +3one’s typical or expected conduct
Robert Forstag
3Tendency in the absence of external influence
Lincoln Hui


Discussion entries: 4





  

Answers


16 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
one’s typical or expected conduct


Explanation:
See comment in discussion box.

Robert Forstag
United States
Local time: 05:44
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 68
Grading comment
Thank you so much, Robert, for your valuable help! Many thanks also to Lincoln for his interesting remarks and to all other participants for their contribution!
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you very much, Robert!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Tina Vonhof (X)
1 hr
  -> Thank you, Tina.

agree  JohnMcDove
2 hrs
  -> Thank you, John.

agree  Yvonne Gallagher
10 hrs
  -> Thank you, Yvonne.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Tendency in the absence of external influence


Explanation:
You may not like the style of writing, and you may well have a good reason to. However, "baseline" is a word that has professional definitions in research, and Dan Siegel has professional credentials, so I believe you need to take his usage of the word seriously, because the odds are against him throwing the word out casually.

By using the word "baseline", I believe he intends to imply that a person will tend to act that way [without conscious effort or planning], unless subject to some sort of external influence that may affect behavior. It's essentially the "starting point" of a person's tendencies, which may change as their environment changes.

"Habitual" doesn't necessarily convey the implication of the underlined above. At the same time, it also has implication that "baseline" doesn't necessarily carry, because it tends to refer to more tangible and countable action; it's not a great fit for things such as persistent mindsets, which I believe the author includes in this discussion. "Habitual" (and "typical", for that matter) also implies a degree of frequency; it would not typically be appropriate, for example, to use "habitual" to describe reaction to a crisis, but "baseline" may be applicable.

I could be completely off-base, but it's worth thinking about.

Lincoln Hui
Hong Kong
Local time: 17:44
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8
Notes to answerer
Asker: Hi, Lincoln, thank you very much for your contribution! Actually, I love Dr Siegel's books... I know that "baseline" has a specific meaning in science; this is however a text for the general public... I was thinking whether maybe "default" could be a synonym...

Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.


See also:
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search