Why do people resist change?

Answer: Uncertainty triggers threat

Uncertainty triggers threat ✓ — Correct! The brain evolved to minimize energy and uncertainty. Change means unpredictability, which the amygdala interprets as potential threat. This triggers loss aversion (losses feel 2x worse than equivalent gains) and status quo bias. Change requires mental effort and risks failure. The brain's default: stick with familiar = safe. Resistance is survival instinct!

Laziness prevents effort — Wrong. Resistance isn't laziness—it's the brain's threat-detection system perceiving uncertainty as danger. It's an evolutionary safety mechanism.

Habits can't be broken — Wrong. Habits can change (neuroplasticity), but the brain resists because change creates uncertainty, which triggers threat responses.