What is Fear?
By Harry Swan
Introduction
Over the vast history of the human race, fear has protected us from possible threats. Whether it be rational or irrational, fear is always present and active in our minds. Over hundreds of years, many studies and tests have been performed to narrow down on the essence or meaning of fear, and today, we can be relatively certain of most aspects.
Within this document, the outline or our basic knowledge of fear will be clarified. To explain this, I will attempt to explain different areas of the topic separately. These areas of the subject will include: what fear is (in both a physical and psychological sense), how our brain reacts when we get scared, and why our brains are specifically wired around fear and fear responses. This information will provide a solid understanding of how fear works.
Different categories of fear
Basic Fears
Within our minds, fear, stress, and anxiety are built up of only 5 basic types of fear, each activated by different things:
1) Fear of death – Probably the most influential of the five, this form of fear is activated by an imminent or direct threat to our existence, such as heights or dangerous animals.
2) Fear of physical pain or anatomical destruction – This fear’s purpose is to stop us from losing the function or ability to use body parts such as our internal organs, arms, feet, or even our fingers.
3) Fear of losing control – Usually influenced by physical events or situations (but commonly social
Everybody has a different perspective on fear and everybody is affected differently. The Mental Health Foundation stated that, “Fear can last for a short time and then pass but it can also last much longer and stay with us. In some cases it can take over our lives, affecting appetite, sleep, and concentration for long periods of time. Fear stops us from travelling, going to work or school, or even leaving the house.” This quote shows that fear does not affect people as much as it does to others. Although, fear can affect people for a long time which can cause them to stay isolated from others. There are many types of fears and some examples of fears include: the fear of the number 13, the fear of spiders, the fear of heights, and many others. There are hundreds of fears and many people have these fears and everybody is affected differently.
Fear is an emotion that every human is at least fairly acquainted with, and each is familiar with the feeling of discomfort that
We humans especially, fear many different things: death, disease, old age, commitment, noises in the night, pain, responsibility, work, being too fat or too thin, or any number of other things. Some of our fears are reasonable and rationale, like the fear for our safety so we lock our doors at night, never walk alone on dark streets, and
Its very sad to say that Fear is one of the most effect thing in a person mind set. In a world full of humans maybe about 8.5 of humans out of 10 people are terrified. It may not seem
Fear is just an Illusion; One that most innocent people can not control. Fear comes to a person when the person does not know what to do and is in an helpless position or in other words insecure. Unfortunately according to many sources a lot of human fear is based on social anxieties and threats. When someone puts one in a situation the person receiving the situation can not control it triggers hyperactivity in the amygdala which causes them to think irrationally. Without knowing what to do these innocent souls end up making the wrong decision and possibly ruin their lives.
Fear is an emotional response made by a threat, which causes a change in brain and organ function, as well as behavior. It is an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that something or someone is dangerous and likely to cause paint or threat. Usually fear is caused by something traumatizing that has happened in one’s life. In order to overcome fear, you have to face it. Avoiding fear prevents people from moving forward and standing up to fearful things help move past that fear. (Towey)
According to PhycologyToday.com fear is an emotional response induced by a perceived threat, which causes a change in brain and organ function, as well as in behavior. Fear can lead us to become narcissistic, to run away from various issues, or to freeze up and become victim under circumstance, or it may come in the form of a discovery.
Over the past two weeks, I have read two different stories about fear. Fear is an automatic response to physical and emotional danger we sense. People handle fear in many different ways but almost all of us let our imagination overcome reason.
Fear is the fuel that drives our train. It is the gas that keeps us moving. Too little and we won’t move; too much and we will become overwhelmed. Fear may manifest itself in many forms, but always strives to complete the same goal: overwhelm you. Fear tries to catch up with your well-being and enrobe you in a pit of darkness.
Another cause for people having fear is the past experiences they have had. Generally, if something bad has happened to somebody, they try to forget about it and/or they try to make sure it never happens again. However, in doing so, they still have a subconscious fear that something similar to the terrible event they’ve experienced may somehow manage to happen again, especially if there are a few similarities between the past event and the current situation. For example, if a man had surgery for his heart to perform better and he nearly died, he may be very reluctant to ever have surgery to his heart or any other body part(s) again.
fear of nature, fear of the unknown, fear of old age, fear of disease, and fear of life itself
Things you fear can become a part of who you are, even in your everyday life. “He knew that fear was the only weapon he had left to save my life and if I didn’t fear the threat of the plague, then dammit, I was going to fear him!” (Brooks 46) People can do anything to save themselves or others in a panic of fear. Seeing others in desperate situation of saving themselves sparks fear in
Every one of us either experiences or feel fear in certain situations or under some scenarios or conditions. Moreover, when we grow and step into the outside world, we get scared of everything,
Everyone experience fear occasionally in their life, but there are some who experience fears that are so intense that their daily lives are disturbed. An extreme fear towards a specific object or situation that is relentless and illogical to the point that a person avoids confronting the situation or object at all cost is known as a phobia. This anxiety disorder can interfere with the a person’s body and mind causing severe symptoms and disturbances to one’s everyday life, eventually leading to long hours of treatment with professional helpers. Many theories have been proposed to explain how phobias have developed, but the real challenge is to propose a
Fear is a feeling created in a response to a perceived danger. Fear can produce pleasure, heighten awareness, be in the form of phobia, a fear of the unknown and an instinctual response to danger.