Why do some people fear change, when change is inevitable?

Answer 1

Change is not always inevitable - change can be engineered.

For example, the introduction of computers into the office environment indicated that change would come, but many employers used this to de-skill clerical jobs, with consequent redundancies and/or reduction of status for clerical workers, to the extent that clerks (in the UK definition) have moved from Social Class IIIa (Upper-middle) to Social Class IV (semi-skilled), in terms of both salary and status.

Engineered change removes the element of control that people like to have over their lives. If one feels that one cannot control the way one lives because of imposed change, this leads to a sense of insecurity - a sense of not being in charge of one's own destiny.

Change is imposed by powerful agents, some of which are so powerful that they virtually challenge Governments. Advertising, the fashion industry, fast food emporia, multi-national business firms, are all agents with gargantuan budgets who propel change for the sake of profit, and with little regard for the social and environmental consequences of their acts.

People of different ages react to change in different ways. Youth welcomes it, but as one ages and acquires security, one fears that change will undermine that security. This has happened in the UK. Social change - the peddling by advertisers of meaningless 'music' and the proliferation of devices enabling this din to be played outdoors, has compromised the tranquility of residential areas; pension schemes that provided economic security for the retired are being cut back and altered in the name of profit. Essential aspects of shopping, such as food, are being 'dumbed down' in order that quality products can be identified as serving a 'niche market' and thus overpriced. This process started with the teabag and is now getting to the stage that consumers in our smaller towns, where shopping for food is dominated by supermarkets, are having to order quality meat on line from remote suppliers because all the independant butchers have closed. I live in a town with a population of 12000, but our last high-street butcher has recently closed, and I have to get my meat from a butcher 3 miles away, who would also have gone out of business were it not for the fact that he supplies most of the meat to the local hotels. I'm a trained chef and I would not cook using the meat from my local supermarkets - by and large it is crap - not hung long enough, and, in the case of chicken, skinny, flavourless and tough - obviously sourced from factory farms.

I rest my case.

Answer 2

Change tends to mean 'change to the unknown'. That is why some fear change.
Underlying personality traits dictate how people react to change. Some relish it because they don't like to be stuck in a rut. Some see it as a challenge to overcome, a sort of game. Some don't mind it as long as it is explained to them and the transition is well thought out, and others have a complete aversion to it, because they don't know how hey will react to the 'new' situation..
That's people for you;- many and varied
If you are undertaking change then best to explain it well in advance, plan what you are going to do, and communicate the 'why'.

Answer 3

It is because of uncertainty that usually comes with change. When change is about to occur, someone usually does not know what comes with it. It can be change for the better or for worse. It is like going to a dark place. one is non sure what they will find inside and yet there might be a treasure in there. So it only takes the brave to face change with courage and free will.

Answer 4

I see no reason why inevitability should prevent fear. Many fear death, the most inevitable event in all our lives.

Answer 5

All the references to fear of the unknown are tangential as change may or may not relate to something unknown.

I think it is important that only some people fear change, as you say in your question. Those who need familiar points of reference (and some people need loads) fear change and those who are secure, or whose security in unaffected by change, wont fear it.

Answer 6

Probably for the same reason they fear death, which is also inevitable. It is the fear of the unknown.

Answer 7

Change is something that us as humans will never grow accustomed to. It will always arouse uncertainty and discomfort- both of which do not bring forth good feelings. Change will always occur- it is a part of life, and humans will continue to fear it until they learn to accept it, and learn to deal with unfamiliar circumstances.

Answer 8

its not that folk despise replace. they only concern a unexpected replace. you cant positioned a guy or woman it is used to a comfortable, quiet existence and in basic terms throw him right into a heart of a city it is busy, and loud alongside with long island. you're able to gradually become that ecosystem. maximum suitable occasion one which definitely everyone has heard is the frog and boiling water. you cant in basic terms stick him of their whilst the water is already boiling or it is going to bounce out. you're able to enable the temperature gradually improve and till now the frog is familiar with what befell its lifeless. you stick a farmer in a city he will pass away and say he hates the city and he will on no account return. comparable with the guy from the city. he will say this existence is to slow and to boring. the only ones which could guard replace is the midsection guy. why do you think of the militia infantrymen and their families can actual pass around and alter so actual? i basically say this because of the fact i replaced into born into the militia. im a guy or woman used to changing the sceneries after staying in a single region for 3-5 years.

Answer 9

People who fear change are SOME NOT ALL conservatives who tend to be very traditional and are full of $#!T

Answer 10

because change can be good or not and people are always scared of change becuase it's 505 percentchance of something going wrong and there not thin oh yeah it should go right there looking at it the other way