Rule #1. The future will always be tainted by our past, as we will attempt to apply our legacy perspectives, biases, moral frameworks and belief systems to the future - relevant or not. ~ Kevin Benedict
Humans display a wide range of psychological traits that can make us resistant to change, and fearful of the future. Understanding these traits helps explain why we sometimes struggle with change, even when it offers rewards and benefits. We will also consider how the influence of money, sex, power, and identity can further complicate these traits in hard to predict ways.
- Loss Aversion: This tendency involves preferring to avoid losses rather than acquiring equivalent gains. The fear of losing what one already has (such as status, resources, or comfort levels) can be a more potent motivator than the potential benefits of gaining something new.
- Status Quo Bias: Many of us prefer things to remain unchanged because the status quo is familiar and comfortable. Change introduces uncertainty, which can be stressful and anxiety-inducing.
- Confirmation Bias: We tend to favor information that confirms our pre-existing beliefs or values. This bias can close us off to new ideas and lead to selective gathering of evidence, making change more difficult.
- Fear of the Unknown: Change is inherently uncertain. Not being able to predict outcomes can lead to fear or anxiety, causing us to stick with known quantities, even if they are suboptimal.
- Cognitive Dissonance: When new information conflicts with our existing beliefs, it can create discomfort known as cognitive dissonance. We often resist change because it challenges our worldview or identity, leading to discomfort we naturally wish to avoid.
- Habit: Our behavior is largely driven by habits, which are efficient for cognitive processing. Changing habits requires conscious effort and can be mentally taxing, thus we often resist change to maintain cognitive ease.