Prosocial: Using Evolutionary Science to Build Productive, Equitable, and Collaborative Groups

by Paul W.B. Atkins

There are three broad classes of behavior that can fit in this quadrant. The most common strategy is to try to avoid the painful experience in some way or other. In the presence of fear about a conflict with someone, for example, we might avoid raising the issue. In the presence of fear of failure, we might avoid taking the risk of giving a presentation where others might see how little we actually know. A second broad class of behavior is to attempt to resist, attack, or get rid of difficult inner experiences. In the presence of doubt, for example, we might repeat to ourselves, “Come on, snap out of it,” and in the presence of sadness, we might strive to think happy thoughts. Finally, we can seek to ignore or distract ourselves by directing our attention elsewhere. All animals have evolved these fight-or-flight responses for dealing with external threats. But humans amplify these moves as they engage with the internal threats of the mind. Figure