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Understanding Primitive and Modern Fears: Enhancing Business Ethics and Employee Wellbeing

Writer: Bill Carlson Bill Carlson
Jul 11, 20244 min read

In the realm of business ethics, understanding human behavior and motivation is paramount. Primitive fears and survival instincts have shaped our ancestors' behaviors for millennia, yet modern fears, driven by internal triggers, dominate our lives today. This blog delves into the parallels between these primitive and modern fears, explores their impacts on our actions, and discusses antidotes for fostering a healthier, more ethical business environment.


Primitive Fears and Survival Skills


Fight or Flight: The Basics of Survival


Primitive fears were primarily triggered by external threats. The sight of a predator or a rival tribe ignited the fight or flight response, essential for survival.

  • Fight: Early humans relied on hunting skills to secure food and defend against threats. This physical confrontation was a direct response to perceived danger.

  • Flight: Equally important was the ability to flee from danger. Gathering resources quickly and efficiently was crucial for survival in an unpredictable environment.


Freeze and Reproduction: Additional Survival Tactics


  • Freeze: In some situations, freezing or remaining still was the best way to avoid detection by predators. This instinct allowed early humans to blend into their surroundings.

  • Reproduce: Ensuring the continuation of the species was another primal instinct. Survival wasn’t just about the individual; it was about ensuring the tribe's future.


Modern Fears and Survival Skills


In contemporary society, our fears are less about immediate physical danger and more about internal triggers. Despite the shift, our bodies react similarly to modern fears, releasing cortisol and adrenaline.


Anger and Anxiety: Modern Equivalents to Fight or Flight


  • Anger: Modern-day anger often stems from perceived threats to our status, possessions, or personal beliefs. This emotion drives us to accumulate wealth, power, and status, mimicking the primitive drive to fight.

  • Anxiety: Anxiety is the modern counterpart of the flight response. It often arises from uncertainties about the future, leading to a compulsive need to gather possessions and secure our position in society.


Isolation and Envy: The Modern Freeze


  • Isolation: In the modern world, isolation can be seen as a response to overwhelming stress or social pressures. It’s akin to the primitive freeze response, where withdrawing from social interaction serves as a protective mechanism.

  • Envy and Jealousy: These emotions reflect our internal struggles with self-worth and comparison. Just as primitive humans competed for resources, modern humans vie for social and economic status.


Bridging the Gap: Antidotes for Modern Fears


To navigate the complexities of modern fears, we need actionable strategies that promote mindfulness, compassion, and long-term fulfillment.


Antidotes for External Triggers


1. Awareness and Mindfulness:

- Practice being present in the moment to reduce stress and enhance clarity.

- Techniques such as meditation and deep breathing can help manage the physiological responses to fear.

2. Gratitude and Appreciation:

- Daily practices of gratitude can shift focus from what is lacking to what is abundant in our lives.

- This shift helps combat the drive for accumulation by fostering contentment.

3. Random Acts of Kindness (RAK):

- Performing small acts of kindness can create positive social connections and counteract feelings of isolation and envy.

4. Laughing and Empathy:

- Laughter reduces stress and builds resilience.

- Empathy fosters deeper connections with others, mitigating feelings of jealousy and anger.


Antidotes for Internal Triggers


1. Tactical (1-6 months):

- Relationships and Friendships: Building strong, supportive relationships can provide a buffer against stress and anxiety.

- Compassion and Connectedness: Engaging in compassionate actions and fostering a sense of connectedness with others can alleviate feelings of isolation.


2. Strategic (6 months and longer):

- Purpose and Meaning: Finding a sense of purpose in work and life can drive long-term satisfaction and mitigate the need for external validation.

- Altruism and Fulfillment: Engaging in altruistic behaviors and seeking fulfillment beyond material possessions can lead to lasting happiness.

- Flow: Immersing oneself in meaningful activities that induce a state of flow can create a sense of accomplishment and reduce stress.


The Challenge: Awareness and Change


Understanding the origins of our fears and the physiological responses they trigger is the first step toward change. However, it’s not enough to recognize these patterns; we must also commit to transforming our behaviors.


1. Gratitude and Appreciation: Begin with daily practices of gratitude to shift focus and foster a positive outlook.

2. Relationships and Compassion: Cultivate meaningful relationships and practice compassion to create a supportive social network.

3. Purpose and Fulfillment: Strive for a sense of purpose in both personal and professional life, seeking fulfillment through meaningful activities and altruistic behavior.


Integrating Ethical Practices in Business


In the context of business ethics, these insights can be transformative. By understanding the primitive roots of modern fears and employing antidotes, organizations can foster a healthier, more ethical work environment.


  • Encourage Mindfulness: Implement mindfulness programs to help employees manage stress and enhance productivity.

  • Foster Gratitude: Create a culture of appreciation where employees feel valued and recognized for their contributions.

  • Promote Empathy and Compassion: Encourage empathetic leadership and compassionate interactions among team members to build a supportive workplace.


Conclusion


Primitive fears and modern fears, though rooted in different triggers, elicit similar physiological responses. By recognizing these patterns and employing antidotes, we can navigate the complexities of modern life and foster a more ethical, fulfilling business environment. The journey begins with awareness, commitment to change, and a focus on building meaningful connections and purpose in our lives.


 
 
 

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What the Professionals Are Saying 

"I teach a course on negotiations, during which I spend a good deal of time talking about honesty and ethics in negotiations. As an ethics researcher, I think it is important that students not only understand strategies for successfully claiming value in negotiations, but also learn about the temptations they will face to engage in unethical bargaining, and unethical behavior more broadly in their professional careers. Bill brought this message to life. Bill explained to my students – with openness, authenticity, and scientific insight – the ethical missteps he took in his career. I am incredibly grateful to have had Bill in my class – I learned from him just as much as my students did. I think he would be a welcome, and much needed, addition to any course related to ethics, well-being, power and influence, or negotiations (and likely many more!)."   

                                                                        Professor Emma Levine/ University of Chicago Booth School of Business 

“Bill Carlson has a reservoir of experience that will resonate with college students and professionals from all walks of life. Seldom do you encounter an individual willing to openly share his foibles and mistakes in an attempt to deviate the life paths of those mutually-inclined to make the same errors. Bill lays his life bare in his presentation and shares the detrimental impact his decision-making had on his personal and professional life; yet he lays the foundation for an inroad to a better future built upon his gratitude for life, learning from his mistakes, and pursuit of his new definition of “life wholeness”.  

                                                                         Dr. William C. McCoy, Director/Rutland Institute for Ethics

                                                                         Visiting Professor, College of Education/Clemson University 

"For over 30 years, I have been teaching full- and part-time. For the past eleven years I have been a member of the accounting faculty at Fordham University. This semester, Fall 2021, Mr. Carlson agreed to speak with my students about his story, and I can say that I have had few guest speakers who delivered such a powerful message about the importance of professional obligations. It was the story of a seemingly nice guy who exhibited a lack of judgment and would pay a heavy price for it. Most importantly, it is a story of a man who reflected upon his moral lapse and has made a solid commitment to helping others."              

                                                                                       Timothy P. Hedley, Ph.D., CPA, CFF, CFE

                                                                            Retired Global Leader of Fraud Risk Management Services, KPMG LLP

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