The human threat and trust systems are psychological mechanisms that influence how individuals perceive and respond to various situations, particularly in social contexts such as when we're at work. These systems are deeply rooted in our evolutionary history and shape our behaviours, emotions, and decision-making processes. They are running the context of how you show up in every moment, making them core to your inner game.
Your threat system reacts with defensiveness, blame and righteousness for self-preservation
The threat response system, or the fight, flight, flee response, is a survival mechanism that is activated when we perceive a threat to our physical or psychological wellbeing. Adrenalin and cortisol surge through our system to prepare ourselves to respond to the threat, creating physiological changes such as increased heart rate, heightened alertness, and a narrowing of focus on the perceived threat. Relational connection, judgment, creativity and decision-making are impaired as the brain focuses on survival.
For most of us, most of the time, our threat system is triggered by psychological threats such fear of failure, rejection, criticism or blame. When triggered, we react to protect our ego with defensiveness, righteousness and blame.
Creativity, curiosity and connection are available when your trust system is online
Our trust system is closely related to our social interactions and plays a fundamental role in building relationships and working in teams. When individuals feel trusted, they’re more likely to engage in positive social interactions and contribute to collective goals. Self-trust generated by self-worth and self-compassion is also important for these pro-social behaviours, as negative core self-beliefs trigger the threat system.
Professor Paul Gilbert’s threat, drive and soothing system framework is another helpful reference for understanding the trust system. Fuelled by the release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, the drive system is responsible for our motivation, ambition, and the pursuit of goals. Some drive system activation is essential to get stuff done and pursue passions. An overactive drive system and an unchecked ego can lead to burnout and in turn activate the threat system.
For most of us, most of the time, our threat system is triggered by psychological threats such fear of failure, rejection, criticism or blame. When triggered, we react to protect our ego with defensiveness, righteousness and blame.
Gilbert’s soothing system, also referred to as the affiliation system, is responsible for promoting feelings of safety, comfort, and connection. It helps us regulate our emotions, experience relaxation, and seek social support. Activation of the soothing system is associated with the release of oxytocin, a hormone known for fostering feelings of trust, bonding, and well-being.
Engaging the soothing system with play, curiosity and self-compassion is key to managing an overactive threat and driving system.
Inner game tools to manage your threat and trust systems
Mastering the inner game is a lifelong practice in seeing when our threat system is activated, connecting with the implications of that activation, accepting ourselves for being activated before exploring if and how we might shift.
The Conscious Leadership Group’s frameworks and tools on seeing if you’re in trust or threat (eg. above or below the line) are our all-time favourite tools in this endeavour.
We also love the work of neuroleadership expert, Dr David Rock. His institute completed a meta study of the psychological research and found our threat and trust systems come down to our core needs for status, certainty, autonomy, relatedness and fairness (SCARF). Follow the links to access summaries of these frameworks and tools to integrate them into your inner game.
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