FIFTH CANADIAN CONFERENCE ON NONDESTRUCTIVE ... - IAEA

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FEAR DETECTION AND REMOVAL
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE TECHNOLOGICAL APE
Tanii HdlliiMe.il
With the advent of the technological age many age old fears of
mankind have resurfaced. What is Fear? How does fear impact on all of our
lives today? How can we learn to detect and remove fear from our lives and'
help others to do the same?
Fear for most of us indicates a loss of control in a situation and it
leads to feelings of helplessness and powerlessness in our life. With the
ever increasing speed and frequency of change surrounding us in our world
many of us are thrown off balance, out of control and into the ocean of
fear.
Fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of change and fear of the
unknown are particularly relevant for people in industries which are becoming
increasingly high tech such as the petrochemical, nuclear, plastic,
steelraaking, and refineries. Older workers worry "Have I got what it takes
to keep up?" Younger workers question "Will I be the first to go if
employees are laid off and computers take over?" Managers wonder "How can I
motivate my employees and allay their fears when I'm not sure what is going
to happen myself?"
These fears can lead us into depression, burnout, passivity,
aggression, and work aholism. Through recognizing our fears and our reaction
to them we gain insight into our roles and behaviours, our relationships and
our communication with others. We must learn to free ourselves from our
fears if we are to motivate ourselves and others to adapt to the changing
world around us so that we can be active participators and not victims of
these changes.