Why Do People Resist Change

[STaR]

Because when someone's conception of reality is challenged, the person lose the ground which they base their life on.

New ideas destroy the basic conceptions of your beliefs making you ungrounded in relation to the network of beliefs necessary to give you a reason for your existance and for the world that you see as you see it.

When someone gives you a new idea you instantly, consciously or not, become in defensive and try to prove your ideas right.

ANY change in your life brings you a discomfort. It's like moving away from home, when you are a young adult. You feel umcomfortable because everything changes. But change is a basic thing in Life.

Everything will always change in your life no matter what you do. Those who are open-minded are in peace because they accept the changes. Those who are not usually manifests the lack of peace by attacking those who have the new ideas.

Those who have new ideas always shake the others, who prefer to stay in their circle of comfort instead of exploring the unknown.     

[Ricardo]

I'd add that in some cases, I think people resist change because of the unknown factor. Some people fear what's unknown to them.

[skatss]

Change is scary for some people. I know I don't like change but I do what I have to in order to get over it. My fear of change has nothing to do with my belief system or anything as deep as that. I'm just afraid of change, like in school when I went from one grade to the next.

I'm uncomfortable at first and then I get used to the different situation and I'm fine.

[illini1]

But then there are people that are so open to change that it's almost scary and they can be labeled as "loose cannons" or what not. How are these people different, when the vast majority of people run away from anything than their comfort zone, whether right, wrong, or indifferent?

[sian]

Hey - everybody has a challenge with change.  Depending on your character - you will go through the inevitable cycle of change.  Perhaps what we should do is to understand what our own needs are and also understand that others have different needs.  That's the issue for me - dealing with a major, scary change and realising that my partner needs different support.  People are not resistant to change - change, being chosen or imposed - is emotionally difficult

[janenose]

So, what are some things I and others can do to be comfortable with change?  I feel like meditating and knowing what the basis for reality really is for one's self is a possible solution.

[S. Earl Martin]

I believe people resist change because of several reasons. Fear of being deceived. The possibility of failure. It makes them uncomfortable. They preceive it is easier to do it the way they have always done it. To busy to learn something new. Fear of looking ignorant or weak. They cling to the familiar. To promote change motivational factors and positive reenforcement must be used. The carrot and the stick. The perception of a possible benifit must be realized.

[S. Earl Martin]

janenose: I find that establishing goals and working to bring these goals to fruition makes it easier to accept change. As I see the goal being accomplished it minimizes the impact of the change as a whole. My focus is on the big picture. I can visualize the end result and the potential positive impact.

[saved]

I feel that people resist change depending on their views. By this I do not mean lib or con, athiest or religious, but more in terms of insecurities. I see this in my friends who like to travel. The people who are more secure are willing to try new places, new things, new foods etc. The ones who are insecure do not even like to travel and when thye do it is the same place yr after yr.  I have a couple friends who cannot figure out why I hate las vegas, but I love costa rica

[liza123]

I feel that people resist change depending on their views. By this I do not mean lib or con, athiest or religious, but more in terms of insecurities. I see this in my friends who like to travel. The people who are more secure are willing to try new places, new things, new foods etc. The ones who are insecure do not even like to travel and when thye do it is the same place yr after yr.  I have a couple friends who cannot figure out why I hate las vegas, but I love costa rica

You have got a good point here Those who explore are not afraid of change. Life is a continuous journey, it should be explored for new discoveries..

[saved]

I feel that people resist change depending on their views. By this I do not mean lib or con, athiest or religious, but more in terms of insecurities. I see this in my friends who like to travel. The people who are more secure are willing to try new places, new things, new foods etc. The ones who are insecure do not even like to travel and when thye do it is the same place yr after yr.  I have a couple friends who cannot figure out why I hate las vegas, but I love costa rica

You have got a good point here Those who explore are not afraid of change. Life is a continuous journey, it should be explored for new discoveries..

I feel that people resist change depending on their views. By this I do not mean lib or con, athiest or religious, but more in terms of insecurities. I see this in my friends who like to travel. The people who are more secure are willing to try new places, new things, new foods etc. The ones who are insecure do not even like to travel and when thye do it is the same place yr after yr.  I have a couple friends who cannot figure out why I hate las vegas, but I love costa rica

You have got a good point here Those who explore are not afraid of change. Life is a continuous journey, it should be explored for new discoveries..

I just do not understand people who do not want to explore or check out new places. Back in 98 I finally twisted the arms of 2 friends (when I was living in cleveland) to go to niagara falls for a weekend.  One was so so when we got there, the other hated it (one of the ones that loves vegas).  I just could not understand it at all.  Right now I am taking care of a sick parent and teaching at a college for the fall semester. If everything is ok in december I am hitting costa rica for 5 days in early mid december and if I get more classes to teach in the spring, I will check out Tenerife (canary islands) for a week right after christmas. I love checking out new places, the scenery, the landscapes, the bars and the restaurants.

[decian]

People do NOT resist ALL change.  Even dead bodies change.  People WILL resist the changes which they think or suspect will make them worse off.  If the proposed change looks like it will cost more time and effort than it seems worth or affordable, they may resist.  They might lack the power to do what they prefer.  They might not even be aware that change is called for or that it is entirely possible.

People welcome good changes and spend all their time pursuing them.  If you wish to persuade someone to change in ways you think they should, it's best to show them that it is worth their while to do so.  If you push, they will resist.  If you gently but clearly reveal, they will understand and make the right choice to suit their situation.  They must convince themselves.  Your contribution is to give them sensible information (if you have it) so they can do their job of deciding and changing for the better.

People do need and like to have comfort-zones where they can reasonably predict what will happen when they do certain things. (No one likes unpleasant surprises.) They are naturally reluctant to leave those comfort-zones unless they can predict that good things will happen as a result. (Sort of like a frog jumping from lilly pad to lilly pad and trying not to land in an alligator's mouth.)  This might explain the resistance that seems so unreasonable from where you sit.

There is little which is more certain in this life than that all things WILL change.  To say that people can't or don't change must be false, for unchangeability is only a feature of dead worlds (and even that's debatable).

[pert -5]

There is little which is more certain in this life than that all things WILL change.  To say that people can't or don't change must be false, for unchangeability is only a feature of dead worlds (and even that's debatable).

I agree.  If I may plug one of my own aphorisms in:
The only constant thing in life is change.

People fear and resist change because they become attached to the way things are.  If things are running smoothly and I'm happy, why would I want change?  Change would be bad.  But change is inevitable, and so this stasis-dependent happiness is a tottering structure that literally resembles a game of Jenga.  So what can be done about it?  How can we find the Isle of Happiness amongst the River of Change?  Well, each person needs to seek these answers for themselves.   Attachment to ephemeral things is the way of life of most people, but it doesn't have to be.  The Buddha was always laughing.  

And no, I'm not advocating a mass-migration to Buddhism.    That would just be plain nuts.

[psy_guy]

I just do not understand people who do not want to explore or check out new places. Back in 98 I finally twisted the arms of 2 friends (when I was living in cleveland) to go to niagara falls for a weekend.  One was so so when we got there, the other hated it (one of the ones that loves vegas).  I just could not understand it at all.  Right now I am taking care of a sick parent and teaching at a college for the fall semester. If everything is ok in december I am hitting costa rica for 5 days in early mid december and if I get more classes to teach in the spring, I will check out Tenerife (canary islands) for a week right after christmas. I love checking out new places, the scenery, the landscapes, the bars and the restaurants.

You are not very open-minded I see. Everyone is different. One is rational, another likes to stay how he is. One likes art, other hates art. One likes traveling, other loves going to a bar. Everyone is different.

People do NOT resist ALL change.  Even dead bodies change.  People WILL resist the changes which they think or suspect will make them worse off.  If the proposed change looks like it will cost more time and effort than it seems worth or affordable, they may resist.  They might lack the power to do what they prefer.  They might not even be aware that change is called for or that it is entirely possible.

People welcome good changes and spend all their time pursuing them.  If you wish to persuade someone to change in ways you think they should, it's best to show them that it is worth their while to do so.  If you push, they will resist.  If you gently but clearly reveal, they will understand and make the right choice to suit their situation.  They must convince themselves.  Your contribution is to give them sensible information (if you have it) so they can do their job of deciding and changing for the better.

People do need and like to have comfort-zones where they can reasonably predict what will happen when they do certain things. (No one likes unpleasant surprises.) They are naturally reluctant to leave those comfort-zones unless they can predict that good things will happen as a result. (Sort of like a frog jumping from lilly pad to lilly pad and trying not to land in an alligator's mouth.)  This might explain the resistance that seems so unreasonable from where you sit.

There is little which is more certain in this life than that all things WILL change.  To say that people can't or don't change must be false, for unchangeability is only a feature of dead worlds (and even that's debatable).

Smart thought. I agree.

Also I'm going to add a little bit of my own opinion: People doesn't like changes, because changes often challenges their opinion, for example: a dude is a buddhist, and someone tries to change him to be a christian. Natural human senses, defensive in particular, takes place here.
Also, as people said here - people like positive changes, they do not like negative changes. That's natural. Who would like to move from a nice farmland house with 2 levels and a basement to a small city apartament (or how are those buildings with many crappy and cheap rooms called in English)... But I bet everyone would do the vice-versa.

[pert -5]

(or how are those buildings with many crappy and cheap rooms called in English)

We call them "projects." 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_housing

[psy_guy]

"Public housing is a form of housing tenure in which the property is owned by a government "

We have such houses, maybe with little less levels, but about ~10-15 levels, where people actually own the rooms, not the government. But yea, it's something like that, what I was talking about.

[hortonpilot]

Why Do People Resist Change?

Defensive behavior.

Honest response is often difficult for some , even if it would improve their life.

Basic stuff such as using positive language , speaking nicely and respectfully to others is a major thing for some people who find it very hard because of their limited outlook.
This stuff remains common in the workplace today despite all the educational programmes.

Pity?


Horton

[psy_guy]

"Honest response is often difficult for some , even if it would improve their life."

Hehe, that's sad, but true actually... Sometimes even in courts. Woman rather say, that she wasn't having sex with her husband's friend and killed her best friend, than tell the truth, that she was having sex with her husband's friend, at the time her friend was killed in the next room, in front of her husband in the court... People are strange (Generally, not that I do not understand their behaviour or something like that).

[hortonpilot]

Psy_guy

"Honest response is often difficult for some , even if it would improve their life."

I struggle with these ideas on a daily basis because even when you reduce them to the most basic, the message does not get through.
No double standards, treat others respectfully , speak to others as you would have yourself spoken to, deal with problems by addressing them and not by avoidance.

So it is interesting ,
"Why Do People Resist Change"?

Horton

[pert -5]

No double standards, treat others respectfully , speak to others as you would have yourself spoken to, deal with problems by addressing them and not by avoidance.

Very pragmatic advice pertaining to sociable behavior.  Thanks for sharing.

But, for what it's worth, those things do not approach the fact that these things are offenses of the Ego.  Or rather, the perspective by which we see our Ego.  Our Egos, being "I," "me," are not the most minute points of observation.  Our Egos are very much observable by "us," comprehended by "us."  (Think to yourself, "X's mind is funny; X's behavior is cheap."  "X" being yourself.)  Self-referential awareness is a specialty of the brain.  I want to make it critically clear that we are able to view our own personas from a standpoint that is not of them.  We can call it acute introspection, or whatever, but we can view our own Ego.  Our morality is born out of this viewpoint, by necessity; (i.e., if it is good for me, but bad for someone else, that is a choice in morality, independent of immediate Ego gratification, and I won't do it because I feel it's bad).  Perspective is the change that needs to occur.  Are you the Ego-centric life that you parade in front of people, or can you be that which controls and sees that Ego?  Direct the miasma of sorrow that you call your life into something that is amenable to your will?  Meh.

[Sparrowhawk1161]

Change.

As a people...we want continuity.  As we try to figure out society, we want an understanding.  This understanding means changing anything takes us away from continuity.  So, we try are best to understand everything around us and...we look comfort in our understanding of the world around us.

Once we understand the world around us...we can relax and say to ourselves, "Now, I understand.  Now, I can relax."

The problem is...everything changes.  So what does that do to an individual?  We must re-evalute everything.  This brings about fear.  Am, I ready for changes?

So, the question is asked in our minds.  "How do I cope with the changes around me?"

Now, we have a problem.  The question is asked, "Can I take on the changes around me?"  So we have two choices.

1. Do I accept the changes?
2. Do I not accept the changes?

Not accepting change.

You go inward.  You isolate yourself from society and don't take on changes.  Changes are enemies.  "I want to stay in my world... the one I know.  Changes are bad for me.  I don't want to change.  I want my world to be what I believe should be.  What I believe is gold!  Everything else is wrong.  I want my world...and, I will fantasies it and live in this world.  I will not accept anything that happens around me."  Isolation and anxiety happens...

Or you take the choice and accept changes.

This perspective is not easy.  It means facing change everyday  and re-evaluating your world.  Change is fact of life.  "I must adapt to all changes around me.  I must find them out and adapt to everyone and everything.  I must be confident with all changes.  I have the ability to do this.  I have knowledge and the emotional capability to adapt to every change that happens in my world.  You don't retreat.  Seek out everything and learn and adapt to everything around me!"

People who have anxiety do do not want change.  Change is an enemy.  It means you are vulnerable.  Some type of change can give negative consequences.  These consequences can give emotional pain.  Growing pains ,as you re-evalute everything around you.  People with anxiety do not believe they can deal with this.

We all have to deal with change.  We all have to accept negative concequences and learn from them.  We are frightened of these changes and believe that we will not be able to deal with them.  It will get the better of us.  It's only a matter time before everything around us gets the better of us and destroy us!

What's funny is most anxiety suffers always change...they see themselves change with everyone they meet.  Whne they are done with that.... they remember doing it.  It should bring on self-confidence...telling us we can live with everything that happens...even engative consequences.

But, we don't want that.  We stay in our rooms, our homes.... and, stay away from anything negative.  Anything negative is our enemy!  we don't want anything to change.  everything in an OCD room is esactly how you want it.  Neat and clean or messy...because you no where everything should be and be able to find it.  If you can't find it.  You have fit...where is it?  Have gone through this.  I do it all the time!  My place is messy...but, I remeber where everything was...until I don't find it...and have  fit.  Our world is what we make... and our world is in this small SAFE place!

I do not want to leave it!  Never!!!

You wonder why everyone around you can just do it.  They shrug anxiety as if its on their sholders and they brush it off!  It's gone!  So, they just go through life!

But, we can't do that.  We we don't have the ability to shed it like a skin from snake and just let it go....we keep it.  Everyday.  Every moment.  Every time!

Welcome to anxiety.  Change is an enemy...you don't want it and you do anything to keep change from happening in your world.

Answers?  I have many.  Have I done them? And completely shed this problem?

No!  Having the answers is one thing.  Actually doing it... is another story.  Can help you.  Yes!  Can I do it myself... sort of!

Helping others with what I know.  And, maybe.... I maybe can find my own answers.  So, we are all in the same boat.  Trying to help each other.  If anything I say helps you...let me know...because maybe my answers...I can to heart.

The most important thing is I suffer like you do.... and your not alone.

Change.  A terrible word!  We don't want it!  Everything is exactly so!

So, anxiety sufferers?  Phobias?  Social anxiety?  Obsessive thoughts and compulsions?

Change?

Your not alone.  I guesss that is the best medicine.  Knowing your not alone and finding answers.../

Let's do it togethe... shall we?

Let's make change...something we cna deal with?