Fight vs Flight

Professor Steve Peters, author of The Chimp Paradox (2012), explores the notion that we all have an ‘inner chimp’ which, if not controlled, will cause us to react emotionally rather than logically when put under stress. 

This is of relevance to the classroom because not effectively managing our students’ ‘chimps’ will lead to behaviour not conducive to learning. Peters suggests that in order to manage our ‘chimps’ effectively we should always try to establish facts before we make an assessment  about others. Examples in an educational setting might be not reprimanding a student for being late, not handing in homework or disengaging in lessons before we have taken the time to ask if there is a good reason for them not having done so. It is therefore important to take an active interest in our students, as getting them to achieve their best depends on how we approach them, and how we approach them should depend on what we know about them. Personally, I have found using a sponge ball for a brief question and answer session about their current interests outside of lessons has greatly improved my rapport with classes and has sometimes revealed information that has allowed me to better support them. For instance, such a conversation revealed a student lacked access to a computer for research, which was remedied by supplying them with revision guides.

Peters also expounds the importance of not letting our ‘chimps’ dominate us by having us accept only preconceived ideas about people, which in turn prejudices how we relate to them. This is of particular importance when teaching sets or students that have been moved for behaviour. One of the proudest moments in my career was when a student wrote to me the year after he finished school to thank me for not treating him as a ‘naughty boy’ but giving him a fresh start; he said this more than anything led to his success in English.