Critique How Hardwired Is Human Behavio

Mary Rosalie C. Ibañez MBA-APEX
A Critique on the Article: “How Hardwired is Human Behavior?” by Nigel Nicholson
From the perspective of learning from the article, the key is to manage effectively by employing a balance two extremes of human behavior. There’s no “one best way” to counter or address the effects of human behavior. This is true whether that human behavior is hardwired or influenced. However, I still think some behavior can be influenced by certain observations or experiences.
For example, I don’t agree with the statement in the article: “The propensity to put confidence before realism also explains why many business-people act as though there isn’t a problem they can’t control”. I have encountered so many business people who are not as confident but realistic. There’s always a plan B just in case plan A doesn’t work. Every move is measured and goals, realistic. They maintain a security blanket wherein their assets are well protected as they anticipate losing from risks they take. Also, being competitive is not innate for everyone.
On the other hand, I find that behavior such as using emotion as the first screen for all information received, stereotyping and prejudice, and gossip are indeed ever present. I’ve had to deliver negative messages before and have encountered highly emotional reactions as well. I for example would get stuck on the things I did wrong or have to improve on and would usually not remember praises for good performance. As for stereotyping and prejudice, I agree that classification makes decision making easier and faster. However, we need to constantly check our standards and parameters for classification as they may be outdated by changes that happen in our environment. As for gossip, I also agree that this organizational grapevine may be very useful to managers but I do wonder how to keep it “healthy”, the article did not include suggestions.
I think the theory of evolutionary psychology will continue to be debated since the explanations are vague and very generalist. One can always argue that even during the Stone Age, behavior has been influenced by external factors of observation and experience. The variation in causes will also depend on an individual’s perception. Personally, it’s hard for me to believe that a non-physical aspect of the self, such as behavior, is genetic. I have always been taught that genetics is all about the physical properties of a human being. Nevertheless, acknowledging that these behaviors are ever present and will have a significant impact in the status quo of an organization, will be very useful to managers in devising appropriate styles of managing different scenarios. Delving more into the details of each will help find the balance needed to be successful in containing, propagating or maintaining a certain behavior in an organization.