In my 1989 book Human Nature and Suffering,4 I had explored research that suggested that we have special brain systems to enable us to feel a sense of safeness, reassurance and pleasurable, calming relief, and that this is linked to being cared for and receiving affection. Slowly the penny dropped: if the emotion system that enables us to feel reassurance, relief and safeness isn’t working or accessible, people may indeed understand something but not feel any reassurance or relief from that knowledge.
