What is RESISTANCE to CHANGE and how to overcome it?

All of us are of habit and it is generally difficult for us to find new ways of acting. But change is life, and life is a continuous flow of both evolutions and transitions. It is a natural fact and as such it is convenient to accept it and live it in the most constructive way possible. However, not all achieve it: as human beings, we are deep down, more than less, animals of habit and, for Therefore, everything that disturbs balances, habits, mental schemes, consolidated behaviors, generates anxiety subtle. In this Psychology-Online article we will see together what is resistance to change and how to overcome it. We will learn about the types of resistance to change, the causes and factors of resistance to change and how to overcome resistance to change.

Index

1. What is resistance to change with examples
2. Causes of resistance to change
3. Types of resistance to change
4. How to overcome resistance to change

What is resistance to individual change? Resistance to change is a known phenomenon in psychology:

The resistance to change of who must make decisions can be explained by the need for certainty and coherence; in fact, an uncertain situation is much more preferable, even if it is considered advantageous. Many experimental investigations demonstrate the human propensity to reactivation by uncertainty, incoherence.

Resistance to change is often directed at those in power, who have not properly consulted those below. It is also the anxiety about changing habits and norms. Finally, it is due to the risk of losing face in the event of failure and lower performance. Not knowing well if he will be able to confirm the operating standards, the person experiences fear and the risk of devaluation both in front of others, than with respect to the image of himself.

First law of change: all change implies learning and all learning implies change. From this axiom is derived the fact that the origin of the "resistance" to change in some people, even before the factor psychologically-characteristically, It is neurophysiological in nature, since each new connection created by the brain implies a true "neuronal fatigue" with its consumption of oxygen and sugars.

In other words, any change has its cost in energy use. These costs are easily borne by those with abundant energy resources, such as children or particularly active and creative adults. People who, on the other hand, have lost or have not developed sufficiently the necessary elasticity mentally, becoming over time very "structured" and accustomed, they live the "costs" of the changes as true stress that causes tiredness, frustration and in many cases also strong hostility.

Of course, each person "structures" his approach to changes not only in terms of brain plasticity, but also and above all in based on life experiences and the success or failure results obtained over time to cope with the different situations.

Many types of resistance are stereotypes and can be anticipated. Here are seven possible reasons for resistance to change:

1. Homeostasis. It is the natural tendency to seek balance in interpersonal relationships.
2. Habits. Repetitive behaviors lead to automatic behaviors.
3. Generalization. "The work has been going like this from the beginning and therefore why shouldn't it continue now?"
4. Selectivity. Only information that confirms current behavior is perceived; selective perception.
5. Addiction. It is the feeling that the current routine behavior is essential to maintain the position achieved.
6. Normalization of the everyday. The mind detects unusual behaviors and causes feelings of rejection when these behaviors are in disagreement with its system of norms and values.
7. Safety. The change can lead to a feeling of insecurity, which is rejected.

How to reduce resistance to change? To avoid resistance to individual change and manage resistance to organizational change, the following tips can be applied.

1. Identify your habitual behavior patterns.
2. Identify those things that could be improved and what ways there are to improve them.
3. Clearly mark your goals.
4. Make well-defined decisions.
5. Try new strategies and new methods. It assumes the philosophy that each failure is a learning.
6. React non-defensively when others disagree with you.
7. Stay calm when talking to those around you.
8. Be open, sincere, and assertive when dealing with others.
9. Develop creative and innovative solutions to problems.
10. Celebrate every little victory.
11. Defeat inertia.
12. Reflect and act, do not stay reflecting forever. There are never perfect conditions, at some point you have to start.
13. Practice get out of the comfort zone.
14. Make change an integral part of your life: the more changes you make, the more flexibility you will gain.
15. Actively participate in the change process.

This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to What is resistance to change and how to overcome it, we recommend that you enter our category of Personal growth and self-help.

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