Why Technology Sometimes Feels Scary: It’s About Change
Fear of tech isn’t about machines—it’s about how it changes who we are.
“Fear of Change” by Kent Langley and Midjourney v7
Fear of change is rarely about the technology itself. It’s about the disruption of comfort, routine, and identity tied to what we already know. Throughout history, a reaction of fear to new technology has been common, but it’s not an immovable obstacle. By remaining curious and taking intentional steps forward, we can not only overcome our fears but also embrace the opportunities innovation creates.
Why Technology Triggers Fear
Think back to the time when electricity was first introduced to homes and cities. People worried it might cause catastrophic fires, harm them, or drastically alter the natural order of life. Fast forward to today: electricity is fundamental and unthinkable to live without. This process of fearful adoption is not unique to electricity. Every major technological breakthrough from the printing press to the internet has sparked feelings of unease alongside excitement.
Why does technological change provoke such visceral reactions? It’s not just about the machines, inventions, or gadgets; it’s about the changes they bring to how we work, live, and define ourselves. When our understanding of the world is shaken, it can feel like losing a piece of who we are.
In this essay, we’ll delve into why humans resist change, how our emotional and cognitive patterns amplify resistance with technology, and what we can do to transform fear into progress.
Identity: The Heart of Resistance
The fear of technological change isn’t only practical, it’s deeply personal. Our identity, shaped by years of habits, principles, and routines, is central to how we understand our value and purpose in the world. But when that identity is challenged, the reaction can feel threatening.
Charles Massy explains in, “Call of the Reed Warbler,” the idea of cognitive entrenchment. When our worldview becomes tightly bound to how we see ourselves, anything that disrupts it invites insecurity. For instance, a factory worker who has honed a skill over decades may feel invalidated when automation makes that skill redundant. The fear here is not just losing a job but losing significance, recognition, and purpose in life.
This tension plays out time and again in history. Take the original Luddites, skilled textile workers during the Industrial Revolution, who destroyed machines that replaced their craft. It wasn’t just the machines they feared; it was the broad disruption to their livelihoods and identity. The fear was real. The change was real.
But fear is not the only reaction. In some cases, societies have embraced change rapidly and used it as an opportunity to redefine themselves. Consider how mobile payment systems gained near-instant adoption in parts of Asia and Africa. In these communities, where traditional banking infrastructures were inadequate, the shift to digital payments allowed people to reimagine their financial systems, not resist them. These examples show that while identity can feel threatened, it can also be expanded to adapt to new realities. And, I’d say our current human society has several areas of inadequacy that technology will be able to improve where allowed to do so.
The Relationship Between Emotions and Thought
Human reactions to change don’t come purely from logic; they are also deeply tied to emotion. On a biological level, our brains are wired to perceive uncertainty as a potential threat. Neurologist Oren Klaff in, “Pitch Anything,” explains that the same regions of the brain responsible for processing physical danger get activated when we feel our worldview is threatened. This is why something like a new technology, though far from harmful in most cases, often triggers the same defensive responses as physical danger.
Now layer this with cognitive entrenchment. As creatures of habit, we find comfort in predictable patterns, which leads us to resist ideas that do not fit neatly within established frameworks. This mental inflexibility leads to something called confirmation bias. Rather than objectively evaluating new information, we subconsciously favor data that reinforces what we already believe and dismiss what challenges that same worldview or belief framework.
Take the rise of artificial intelligence. Some people embrace its potential to improve lives, while others cling to concerns about privacy, job loss, or ethical misuse. Though these fears aren’t inherently wrong, cognitive entrenchment can amplify them, making it difficult for us to evaluate AI’s possibilities fully. By acknowledging how fear and thought patterns interact, we give ourselves the opportunity to pause and approach change more thoughtfully.
Fear of Loss Drives Resistance
Gregg Thompson’s insight from his book, “The Master Coach,” is clear. “We don’t resist change; we resist loss.”
“We don’t resist change; we resist loss.” - Gregg Thompson
When confronted with technological change, people often feel that something valuable is being taken away, whether it’s security, relevance, or control. This feeling of loss builds opposition to change; not the change itself.
For example, when the Industrial Revolution introduced mechanized looms, workers felt these machines diminished their purpose. Factory jobs today face similar fears, with workers worried about robots and AI taking over human tasks. However, fear also appears outside the workplace. Privacy concerns about smart devices or fears of becoming obsolete show how a sense of lost control fuels emotional resistance.
Yet change is not inherently about giving up. Change is often about redefining. While concerns about loss dominate the early stages of technological shifts, they frequently give way to rediscovered benefits. Consider e-commerce’s rapid rise. Initially, many resisted the transition online, worried it would erode the personal touch of shopping in physical stores. Over time, though, people found convenience and variety had their own value. The shift wasn’t about losing traditional shopping entirely; it was about layering new possibilities alongside the old.
How Identity Evolves With Technology
Changes in technology often feel like disruptions to identity, but identity is not fixed. It is fluid and capable of evolution. Recognizing this can soften resistance to change.
Consider how roles have morphed over time. During the digital age, teachers initially feared that technology like YouTube and online courses would make them irrelevant. Instead, many educators now integrate these tools to enhance classroom learning and reach global audiences. They’ve reimagined their roles not as threatened but as expanded. Our identities, like theirs, don’t need to stay locked within past frameworks.
Rather than seeing technological progress as an erasure of identity, we can view it as an opportunity to add to who we are. For a factory worker whose craft is replaced by robotics, adaptation could mean choosing to oversee and program such machines rather than operating the outdated equipment. Identity, when seen as adaptable, becomes limitless rather than bound.
Four Steps to Overcome Fear of Change (or Technology)
Fear of change is universal, but it is also manageable. Next time you feel apprehensive about an innovation like AI, automation, or new gadgets, consider these steps.
Acknowledge What You’re Really Afraid Of: Is it the tool itself or the fear of losing something familiar? Naming your fear makes it easier to address.
Stay Curious Instead of Dismissive: Make it a habit to explore rather than reject. Ask yourself: how might this technology benefit you or the world around you?
Take Incremental Steps: Break the change process into manageable steps. Don’t learn everything about a new tool all at once. Master one part, then move to the next.
Redefine Your Identity Dynamically: Growth doesn’t erase your past self; it adds to it. Ask how technology can complement the skills and roles you already have.
History shows us that the story of humankind is one of continuous reinvention. Technology humbles and confronts us, but it also offers pathways to new possibilities. By choosing curiosity and adaptability over fear, we honor our role in that journey.