The Challenge-Response (C-R) Model

I learnt about this model in a course I took during my third year of undergraduate study in the University of Ibadan’s Agricultural Extension Services department.

As I recall it, the C-R model is based on the premise that people from some societies, which today are regarded as “developed”, in the early days on earth, were confronted by very harsh environmental conditions.

They had – among other things – extreme weather variations (e.g. Snow during which time most plants either died or hibernated, leaving little if any fruits and animals for humans to eat). Also phenomena like Hurricanes, Blizzards, and Earthquakes etc were repeatedly visited upon them and often claimed many lives.

The frightening possibility of extinction forced them to search for ways to “control” their environment.

Over many years, concerted efforts led to various inventions which progressively made it possible to control their environment better (Electricity, Air-conditioning, weather monitoring and control equipment etc). Man-made creations, designed to make life on earth safer and easier, were thus initially produced as a means to ensure survival.

However, in the process of responding to nature’s life-threatening challenges, they also discovered a previously unknown part of themselves. They had come to realise an inherent ability as humans to achieve practically anything they set their minds to.

So they began applying the learnings obtained from trying to survive, to making their existence even more pleasurable. In effect science and technology was born, and evolved over the years to meet their needs – and those of the rest of the world!

At about the same time, in the other groups of societies, which today are considered to be “developing” or “under-developed”/”third world” etc, however (i.e. during those early days), the C-R model posits that the environment was generally very conducive for human existence.

For instance in many places, trees with juicy, edible fruits were rarely ever in short supply -and when they did get limited in availability, the people simply moved on to other areas where things were still “rosy”!

Also, weather variations – in most parts – rarely approached the extremities recorded in the societies, which are today called “developed”.

So, the proponents of this sociological “theory” posit that the favourable environment – at that time – in the societies today regarded as “under-developed” made the people there adopt a relaxed – passive – attitude to life wherein they felt no pressing NEED to control their environment (at least not like those in the relatively “harsher” environments which today are considered “developed”.

Unfortunately, this absence of frighteningly challenging external stimuli (believed to have motivated the now developed societies (back then – and even today!) to actively seek to control their environment), is what the proponents of the C-R model believe led to the relative underdevelopment of those less developed today.

Analogy: Application of the C-R Model In Sports

Now, I have no interest in debating whether or not this model is correct. What I am interested in is the logic of the argument it presents. World Class athletes will tell you that when their rivals are not in a race with them, they often find it difficult to put in the extra effort needed to break old (or set) new records. It is not uncommon to hear a professional athlete say she needs someone to “pace” her.

Think back to competitions you have witnessed, and you will realise that records have often been set, as a result of two or more strong contenders for the first place in a race struggling to beat each other to the finish line. When an athlete knows she has outpaced the rest of the field, there is sometimes less motivation to keep going at maximum speed, since no physical evidence of a threat to clinching first place is apparent.

The foregoing shows that the logic of the C-R model could (and I do mean could!) be right. If we apply it to our individual lives, it implies that our difficult colleagues, bosses, and friends actually present us with challenges that we can CHOOSE to deliberately USE motivate ourselves to strive for continuous improvement in our personal and work lives.

So, every time they refuse to help, try to obstruct us, criticise (or ridicule) us, we should deliberately draw strength from the thought of eventually achieving our objective(s) DESPITE their efforts!

Generally, those who go through life too easily or comfortably are often ill prepared to deal with difficulties and disappointments – especially psychologically. As a result, they are typically incapable of withstanding adversity or recovering from (temporary) setbacks or failures.

On the other hand, people who have always had to struggle through life often emerge “toughened”, and demonstrate this by being resilient even in the face of difficulties, hardships, setbacks etc caused by difficult people or circumstances around them.

Summary: To be successful in life, one needs to develop an ability to accommodate and tolerate others who differ from – or disagree with – us in any number of ways.

In the same way, we need to be able to ADAPT to those inevitable periods when we will find ourselves in inconvenient, difficult, uncomfortable environments or circumstances that we are NOT so used to, or that we totally dislike. Our ability to ENDURE, and make the most of such “opportunities” will ultimately determine our success – or otherwise.

These are examples of REAL-LIFE challenges you will have to deal with daily. As I have said elsewhere, development of a positive mindset, mental stamina and visualisation are the three most CRUCIAL requirements for ANYONE to succeed in ANY area of endeavour in life.

It’s not easy to do and you may not like it, but in my opinion nothing teaches greater discipline (and builds you UP better) than having to periodically struggle, and WORK hard to OVERCOME unexpected difficulties or challenges that confront you in your society and/or environment.

Master this skill, and you will be well on your way to becoming truly UNSTOPPABLE!