Fight Or Flight: Our Technology Limbic System
The battle for digital transformation might between our reptilian brain and the neocortex!
Innovation is both exciting and scary, as new technologies always bring wonder and fear. From fire to artificial intelligence, humans have always pushed the boundaries to advance knowledge and capabilities. However, the bigger the innovation, the bigger the fear. It is crucial to manage the fear associated with new technologies, particularly in areas such as robotics and AI where the wonder of the innovation is immense.
Managing fear should be a primary strategy to help people become knowledgeable and comfortable with digital transformation. This is particularly important in areas where the fear of the unknown can be unrealistic and insurmountable. Balancing the sense of wonder and the fear of the unforeseen consequences of innovation is tricky but crucial. It is essential to learn to balance our sense of wonder at what innovation can achieve with our fear of the unknown and the unforeseen consequences that innovation can bring.
But let’s dig a little bit deeper here. There might be some interesting biology at the root of the issues.
The idea of technological “wonder and fear” as similar to a “technology limbic response” is a fascinating concept that can help us understand how some people react to new innovations. The limbic system is responsible for our emotional responses, including fear, pleasure, and motivation. This system is often referred to as the “reptilian brain” because it is the most primitive part of the brain that we share with other animals, including reptiles.
When we encounter a new technology, our limbic system is often the first to respond, triggering the fight or flight response that pushes us away from potential danger. This response is natural and has helped us survive as a species for millions of years. However, it can also lead to an irrational fear of new technologies that can hinder progress and innovation.
The key to overcoming this fear is to engage our neocortex, our thinking person’s brain. The neocortex is the part of the brain that is responsible for higher-level thinking, including language, imagination, and abstract thought. It allows us to analyze and understand the potential benefits and risks of new technologies and make informed decisions about how to engage with them.
By engaging our neocortex, we can have a more balanced and informed response to new innovations, which can help us embrace the wonder and potential benefits while managing the fear and potential risks. This is particularly important in areas where the wonder of the innovation is immense, such as in robotics and artificial intelligence. Without engaging our neocortex, we may miss out on the tremendous benefits that these technologies can bring.
But there’s a flip side to this idea. The activation of the neocortex can also validate our fears! Our visceral reaction to innovation isn’t always void of rationality and might function of a more subtle level. That “gut response” may be telling us something. But ultimately, the human microprocessor will make a rational determination.
The idea of “wonder and fear” as a “technology limbic response” can help us understand how humans react to new innovations. By engaging our neocortex, we can have a more balanced and informed response to new technologies, which can help us embrace the wonder and potential benefits while managing the fear and potential risks. Well-sourced, comprehensive knowledge is perhaps our greatest tool to manage both wonder and fear associated with technological innovation. As we continue to embrace innovation, we have the power to achieve tremendous things and shape our future for the better. Innovation is what has brought us this far, and it is what will take us even further still. By bringing wonder and managing fear, we can help people become knowledgeable and comfortable with digital transformation and drive progress forward as a society.
Remember, it’s OK to be a little afraid. It’s been keeping us alive for a very long time.
