Humanity’s primitive ancestors evolved the stress response in an environment far more dangerous than today’s civilized workplaces. Humans’ evolutionary responses no longer match their daily reality.
The ancient “fight-or-flight” response, wherein stress provokes an accelerated heartbeat, tightened muscles, and the release of adrenaline, impelled early humans to either flee a predator or charge into battle. The mismatch theory recognizes only this kind of stress response, but evolution has not stood still.