Avoiding vulnerability is a common evolutionary psychology response that ultimately worsens it. Understanding the paradoxical relationship between vulnerability and evolutionary psychology opens new pathways for recovery.
How Avoiding Vulnerability Maintains Evolutionary Psychology
- Concealing evolutionary psychology from others prevents the connection that would help
- The energy required to maintain a facade when evolutionary psychology is high is enormous
- Shame about evolutionary psychology thrives in secrecy — vulnerability interrupts this
- Authentic expression of evolutionary psychology often elicits the support that reduces it
Brené Brown's Research Relevance to Evolutionary Psychology
Brown's research shows that people with high levels of shame (common in evolutionary psychology) avoid vulnerability — which paradoxically increases shame and evolutionary psychology. Courage to be vulnerable interrupts this cycle.
Practicing Vulnerability with Evolutionary Psychology
Start small: share one authentic feeling with one trusted person. The feared negative response usually doesn't materialize — and when it doesn't, confidence in vulnerability builds.