level, your brain is scanning the
environment around you and asking itself:
Is it safe here? Or is it dangerous?
It likes safe, of course. When your brain feels safe, it can
operate at its most sophisticated level. You’re more subtle in your
thinking, better able to see and manage ambiguity. You assume
positive intent of those around you, and you’re able to tap
collective wisdom. You’re engaged and you’re moving forward.
When the brain senses danger, there’s a very different
response. Here it moves into the familiar fight-or-flight response,
what some call the “amygdala hijack.” Things get black and white.
Your assumption is that “they” are against you, not with you.
You’re less able to engage your conscious brain, and you’re
metaphorically, and most likely literally, backing away.
And it’s not a balanced decision. For obvious evolutionary
reasons, we’re biased to assume that situations are dangerous
rather than not. We may not be right, but over the course of
humankind’s evolution, the successful survival strategy has been
“better to be safe than sorry.”
In other words, if you’re not sure about a situation, you’ll
default to reading it as unsafe. And start backing away.