23 April 2026

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Amygdalization: Why We’re Reacting Instead of Leading—And What Dentistry Can Do About It

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Written by: Dr. Alan Stern, FACD, FICD (who coined the term “Amygdalization”)

Key details

There is a concept from neuroscience that has quietly become a cultural force.

It is the brain’s alarm system—designed to detect threat and trigger rapid responses to keep us safe.

It does not distinguish well between real danger and perceived threat.

And when it takes over, it overrides the prefrontal cortex—the part of the brain responsible for reasoning, empathy, and thoughtful decision-making.

What this means for the market

I’d like to introduce a term for what we are seeing more and more in today’s world:

A state in which individuals, groups, and even entire professions begin reacting to perceived threats as if they are immediate dangers—often with speed, intensity, and certainty… but without reflection.

It is easy to point fingers at politics, media, or social platforms.

What could be productive disagreement becomes something else:

And collaboration becomes nearly impossible.

Long before we understood the Amygdala, Buddhist philosophy described three forces:

Together, they create a cycle where we react automatically, believe our reaction is truth, and double down.

👉 Between stimulus and response, there is a space.

De-Amygdalization: A Skill Worth Developing

If this is a nervous system problem, then the solution is not louder arguments.

In a reactive environment, words can either:

As practitioners, leaders, and human beings…

But if we do not learn to manage the state in which we engage conflict…

Then Amygdalization will continue to divide teams, professions, and communities.

Alan Stern, DDS, retired from clinical dentistry in 2023 and now operates Better, Richer, Stronger, LLC. He is a dental practice coach, keynote speaker, and author.

His book, Enjoy the Ride , is available on Amazon.

Join his Facebook group, strangely called Better, Richer, Stronger.

He can be reached at alan@betterricherstronger.com . You can also visit his website at dralanstern.com .

FEATURED IMAGE CREDIT: Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay .