Survival Instincts in the Modern World: Understanding Ancient Fears and Their Impact on Stress and Behaviour
Dr Olivia Lesslar will outline how ancient survival threats, such as scarcity, predators, pathogens, and sensory dangers, continue to shape modern human responses to stressors. A framework was developed to help clinicians understand how these primal fears—rooted in our evolution—manifest today, influencing behaviours like anxiety, social connection, and responses to illness or environmental stress. These ancient instincts still drive our reactions to perceived threats in the modern world.