What Survival Instinct Cannot Explain: The Limits of a Management Concept

{"This":[0],"paper":[1,46],"argues":[2],"that":[3,33],"\\"survival":[4],"instinct,\\"":[5],"as":[6,30],"used":[7],"in":[8,32,47],"management":[9],"and":[10,55],"leadership":[11],"training,":[12],"fails":[13],"basic":[14],"tests":[15],"of":[16],"scientific":[17],"rigor,":[18],"not":[19],"because":[20,27],"the":[21,28,44,51],"underlying":[22],"biology":[23],"is":[24,43],"wrong,":[25],"but":[26],"concept,":[29],"deployed":[31],"context,":[34],"cannot":[35],"be":[36],"measured,":[37],"tested,":[38],"or":[39],"shown":[40],"false.":[41],"It":[42],"second":[45],"a":[48,56],"series":[49],"examining":[50],"concept's":[52],"origins,":[53],"limitations,":[54],"proposed":[57],"alternative.":[58]}

Authors

Publication Details

Journal
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Published
2026-09-18
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22826343
Primary Topic
Leadership and Management in Organizations
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
article

What Survival Instinct Cannot Explain: The Limits of a Management Concept

Anne Burlinson
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Leadership and Management in Organizations
article

What Survival Instinct Cannot Explain: The Limits of a Management Concept

Anne Burlinson
article en

Abstract

This paper argues that "survival instinct," as used in management and leadership training, fails basic tests of scientific rigor, not because the underlying biology is wrong, but because the concept, as deployed in that context, cannot be measured, tested, or shown false. It is the second paper in a series examining the concept's origins, limitations, and a proposed alternative.

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Openalex Percentile: Top 7%
Leadership and Management in Organizations
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.