A toddler throws themselves to the ground in the middle of the cereal aisle at the grocery store. “No mom!” the tiny human exclaims. “That’s not fair!”

It’s a perfect example of how we react to situations we find unfair in our early years. However, as we age, navigating the unjust gets a bit more complicated since grown adults throwing hissy fits isn’t exactly looked upon favorably. These emotions can cause chaos in the workplace and result in a disjointed and deflated team.

And it’s not just in our hearts, it’s in our heads, says businessman Marco Alvera.

“… Science also shows that when we see or perceive fairness, our brain releases a substance that gives us pleasure, proper joy. But when we perceive unfairness, we feel pain … even greater pain than the same type of pain as if I really hurt myself,” said Alvera, in a TED Talk.

“That’s because unfairness triggers the primitive, reptile part of our brain, the part that deals with threats and survival, and when unfairness triggers a threat, that’s all we can think about. Motivation, creativity, teamwork, they all go way back.”

Alvera suggests that all managers examine the big picture in their companies and endeavor to “filter out as much unfairness” as possible. This, he claims, will create calmer, more focused workers who feel valued and aren’t afraid to take risks – risks that can have huge payoffs in the long run.

To learn more, watch The Surprising Ingredient That Makes Businesses Work Better.