Can Stress Make Us Selfish?

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There has been a worldwide spike in anxiety over the last several years. The immediate effect of COVID-19 on American stress and coping was recently highlighted in a research that looked at how people in the United States were reacting to the epidemic. Over a thousand people took part in the research. The findings demonstrated unequivocally that the epidemic is demanding.

Reading/hearing about the severity and contagiousness of COVID-19 (96.6%), uncertainty regarding the period of quarantine (88.3%) and social distancing requirements, and adjustments to social (83.7%) and daily personal care routines (83.7%) were the most frequently reported sources of stress (80.1 percent). The issue of money was also mentioned. Concerns about the future of the economy on a national and global scale was a major source of stress for many respondents (12 percent) (63 percent). The research found that young females with caregiving responsibilities had the greatest chance of exposure to COVID-19 stressors and higher levels of stress.

In addition, the Canadian Social Survey found that people in that country have been feeling more anxious than usual since the outbreak started. Women in Canada, like women in the United States, particularly those who stayed at home to care for children during the epidemic, considered the situation to be very stressful.

Stress levels were greatest among individuals responsible for children during the epidemic, according to polls of the Canadian and American populations. Eight hundred and one people answered a nationwide online poll in April 2020 and again 60 days later. About 22% of those surveyed said they had taken in youngsters as foster or kin care during the epidemic.

Can Stress Make Us Selfish
Can Stress Make Us Selfish?

When compared to the general population, more over 20% of carers reported suffering clinically significant PTSS. Outbursts of rage or reckless behaviour, trouble concentrating or remembering, feeling guilty or ashamed about oneself, and avoiding situations and people that bring up negative emotions were all signs. In a nutshell: these parents seem exhausted.

Children that exhibit this pattern may develop insecure attachments, which puts them at increased risk for mood and anxiety problems later in life. Transgenerational trauma may affect civilizations if this pattern is not broken.

The Effects of Stress on Our Behavior

The epidemic undoubtedly added stress to many people’s lives. Stress, unfortunately, has far-reaching effects on our health. This has repercussions for our physical health, mental state, and social interactions. Notably, the strain of the pandemic may have altered our ability to think socially.

Being able to help others without expecting anything in return is a hallmark of humanity. Putting yourself out for someone else even though it costs you anything is an example of altruism. The issue then becomes whether or whether increased stress levels have impacted selfless behaviour.

A research looking at the link between stress and giving might yield some surprising and important results. Thirty-five people were split evenly between the stress and control groups (4). Subjects in the stress group were asked to take the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). They had to give a speech in front of unfeeling judges about why they are the best person for the position, and it was all recorded on camera. As was to be predicted, the job raised their blood pressure and cortisol levels.

The participants’ mentalizing abilities were assessed before they undertook this stressful job. Having the ability to “mentalize” allows us to comprehend the emotions and thoughts of others around us (their beliefs, needs, and thoughts). Generosity was shown to be connected favourably with levels of mentalization in this analysis. Those who scored better on the mentalization ability test were also more likely to give than those who scored lower.

The ability to make and carry out selfless choices is influenced by stress.
Donation tasks were conducted in the MRI both before and after the social stress task. Task participants had to make a charitable contribution decision while inside an MRI machine.

Each participant received 20 euros and was allowed to retain a portion of the funds they did not contribute to charity. The individual being scanned will suffer a personal loss as a result of their selfless choice to give.

It was shown that people become more self-centered while under stress. On average, they were less charitable after experiencing social stress (TSST). Salivary cortisol levels and other stress indicators were also predictors of kindness. Increases in cortisol, for instance, were linked to decreased altruism, and participants grew more self-centered as their physiological stress responses to the stress task intensified.

Not everyone experienced the same dynamic between stress and kindness. Generosity was not suppressed by cortisol in all individuals. Stress inhibited generosity only among those with a strong mentalization ability, but not among those with a poor capacity for the same. This means that the more empathy you have for another person, the more likely it is that you will act selfishly when under pressure.

Altruism, Stress, and the Human Brain

The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is a key brain region for making selfless choices (DLPFC). The right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex has a role in the deliberate adoption of an ego-less, social stance (5).

This region of the brain may provide insight into why individuals become more self-centered while under severe stress. Under the effect of cortisol, the DLPFC helps the person switch their focus from other people to themselves. It is still unknown how specifically DLPFC mediated the connection between stress and altruism.

Many people’s mental health has suffered as a result of the epidemic, and the dynamics of many teams and communities have been altered as a result. Some individuals may become more self-centered as a result of this stress, according to the findings of this study.

Educating the public about the dangers of pandemic stress might have far-reaching positive consequences on society as a whole, since altruism is an essential component of strong societies. In addition, stress management may be taught in workplaces, classrooms, and other public settings. Perhaps frontline and healthcare professionals, who faced abnormally high levels of stress during the pandemic, can be identified as “mentalizers” and given intensive or quick stress management training.

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