By: ME"The Old Ancient Woman"
Change is a fundamental principle of life, and all living organisms undergo polymorphic transformations—distinct developmental stages characterized by specific physiological and behavioral features. In the animal kingdom, these transformations occur seamlessly within a biologically determined progression, primarily governed by the basal ganglia and the brainstem—components of what is often referred to as the "reptilian brain." This neurobiological system underpins instinctual survival behaviors, autonomic nervous system regulation, arousal states, sleep-wake cycles, and other core functions essential to lifespan maintenance.
In non-human species, survival behaviors are continuously activated in response to environmental demands—predator vigilance, foraging, mating, and territorial movement. This constant physiological readiness, a hallmark of the stress response, is a natural part of animal life. However, in humans, this state of high alert has been co-opted beyond biological necessity, shaped by sociopolitical forces, intergroup conflict, and existential competition over resources, identity, and control.
As a result, the human nervous system—particularly the autonomic and limbic structures—becomes chronically activated, mimicking the stress-adaptive behaviors observed in other species. This prolonged activation triggers the sympathetic nervous system's cascade: increased heart rate, blood pressure, and the fight-flight-freeze-fawn responses. The neuroendocrine system responds with elevated secretion of cortisol, norepinephrine, epinephrine, histamine, and glutamate, establishing a heightened arousal state that compromises prefrontal cortex function, impairs executive reasoning, and inhibits higher-order cognitive processing.
Crucially, the human neocortex—especially in conjunction with the prefrontal cortex—distinguishes human cognition from other species. These structures support abstract reasoning, memory integration, decision-making, and emotional regulation. Yet, chronic activation of stress circuits during early development imprints these threat-response patterns into neural architecture, forming behavioral templates that are easily reactivated later in life. These early imprints suppress the engagement of prefrontal regions and reinforce reactive, rather than reflective, behavior.
Environmental and psychosocial determinants—such as socioeconomic instability, political oppression, religious ideology, mobility patterns, sleep disruption, and adverse life experiences—further exacerbate dysregulation within the central nervous system. The result is a complex neurobiological vulnerability that predisposes individuals to systemic disease, neuroinflammation, and psychiatric morbidity. Epidemiologically, this is reflected in the increased prevalence of chronic illness, neurodevelopmental disorders, and mental health conditions, particularly manifesting in adolescence and persisting into adulthood.
Despite technological advancements and improvements in material living conditions, underlying dysregulation at the cellular level remains masked. Alterations in cell signaling, oxidative stress, metabolic dysfunction, and impaired synaptic communication—especially in brain regions involved in higher cognition—drive a silent epidemic of neurodegeneration and psychological distress. Political and social systems that weaponize behavior through mechanisms such as discrimination, racism, and marginalization exert profound neurobiological effects, altering neural plasticity and increasing disease susceptibility.
Furthermore, when cultural norms reinforce pathological behaviors—driven by the dark tetrad traits (narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and sadism)—they contribute to the normalization of victimization and the erosion of communal well-being. In such environments, the human brain remains in a constant defensive mode, with impaired neocortical and prefrontal integration, limiting the capacity for empathy, critical thinking, and holistic health.
Understanding human behavior through this evolutionary and neurobiological lens reveals the deep-rooted activation of stress systems as a tool for social control, competition, and power consolidation. Chronic stress becomes embedded at the molecular level, altering DNA expression, promoting gene mutations, disrupting protein folding, and impairing immune and neural integrity.
The epidemic of chronic illness, neuropsychiatric disorders, and relational dysfunction can thus be traced back to these early-life activations. A society that fails to interrogate how early experiences and sociocultural dynamics shape neural development risks perpetuating cycles of disease and dysfunction. True healing requires a reevaluation of the environments we construct—socially, politically, and emotionally—and an intentional cultivation of conditions that support prefrontal development, neuroplasticity, and integrative well-being.
Reflection: To restore human vitality and resilience, one must conduct an honest inventory of life experiences, social interactions, and environmental exposures that have influenced the trajectory of neural and biochemical function. In doing so, we reclaim agency over our neurobiological destiny and affirm the possibility of peace, not only as a cultural ideal, but as a physiological necessity.
