Spiders, heights, water, darkness, confined spaces — fears that haunt us throughout our lives. But what is their nature? Why are we afraid of certain phenomena? Where does all that screaming and shrinking come from?
In general, it’s time to understand the most powerful emotion and break it all down. Admigram.com has gathered everything you need to know about the nature and manifestations of fear in one article. Read on, and perhaps you’ll become less afraid!
The psychology of fear: why we’re afraid
What does psychology say about fear?
© Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire / Warner Bros. Pictures, Heyday Films
Fear is a negative emotional state that arises in a person when there is an actual or perceived threat to their life. In such situations, individuals may experience uncertainty, vulnerability, a sense of danger, and panic.
Fear is classified into two types: short-term (fright) and long-term – diffuse fear (panic, horror, anxiety). Many psychologists of the past who studied fear considered it to be the most harmful emotion, as when a person is afraid of something, they cannot accurately assess the situation. All their energies are directed toward analyzing the situation, evaluating the reality of the fear’s cause, and determining what actions to take in that situation.
On the contrary, other psychologists believed that fear is the most useful emotion, as it is rooted in self-preservation. Today, psychology considers both perspectives to be valid. For example, fear of pain can prevent a person from getting injured, but prolonged fear can lead to a loss of self-control, even to the point of developing a phobia.
The absence of fear, in most cases, is a consequence of Urbach-Wiethe disease. This condition damages the amygdala, which is responsible for both positive (pleasure) and negative (fear) emotions in humans.
How does psychology classify fear?
© Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest / Walt Disney Pictures, Jerry Bruckheimer Films
Fear can be loosely categorized into three groups:
- Fright – a short-term fear.
- Horror – a longer-lasting emotional manifestation of fear.
- Panic – prolonged fear. If panic symptoms persist, it may develop into phobias (irrational, uncontrollable fear).
The term “horror” in Latin means terror. Nowadays, the word “terror” has a different meaning, signifying a threat, while “horror” denotes the resulting emotion. In many countries, the law provides for a reduction in punishment for unintentional crimes committed under the influence of strong emotional stress – a state of “affect”. If a defense lawyer can prove that the accused committed an unintentional crime under the influence of affect, the accused’s sentence can be reduced.
Starting in 1894 (the birth of psychoanalysis), the question of fear has remained at the center of attention for analysts who, over time, have not reached a unanimous resolution on this matter. They’ve managed to frame it in a way that invites further contemplation, rather than closing the discussion.
Psychoanalysis distinguishes between fear and phobia. You can fear darkness, confined spaces, spiders, injections, even foreigners, but the cause of fear is not clear. Fear is not triggered by a specific object or event but rather by an undefined danger that “needs to be discovered”. When dealing with fear, it’s impossible to pinpoint exactly what we’re afraid of, as it arises without any visible reason. However, this doesn’t mean that the cause is entirely absent, nor that there’s no way to overcome fear.
What is fear according to psychology?
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Unlike phobias, fear doesn’t serve any protective function. While a phobia reminds you of danger and prompts you to take action for self-preservation, fear embodies a “helplessness in the face of danger.” It prevents you from accurately assessing a situation and making the right decision, often endangering your life.
Certainly, you can rid someone of a phobia of insects or something else specific, but the fear that lies at the core of becoming a subject won’t be affected; it will merely shift to another object. As one object of fear recedes, a new one takes its place. It’s better to fear something specific, to avoid possible encounters with such objects, and thus control your feelings than to succumb to vague fear.
For this reason, psychoanalysis doesn’t find value in everyday advice on “how to overcome fear.” Firstly, because there are no universally correct pieces of advice applicable to all situations. People are diverse, and simply adapting to one object of phobia won’t rid you of fear.
What does psychology think about phobias?
© Home Alone / Hughes Entertainment, 20th Century Fox
Phobias never arise instantly; they develop when negative experiences of discomfort or shock are confirmed and ingrained, categorizing certain objects as “dangerous.”
As an example, consider arachnophobia – the fear of spiders, which gradually extends to a fear of all insects, fuzzy objects, and even simple spots on walls or floors.
There are numerous phobias, from the widely known ones depicted in literature and movies – fear of enclosed spaces (claustrophobia) or, conversely, vast open spaces (agoraphobia) – to the extremely unusual ones that occur in rare cases, such as a fear of the sun.
Individuals strive to avoid situations related to their specific phobia, but thoughts of the threat constantly revolve in their minds, persisting even when the danger is impossible.
In such cases, self-suggestion comes to the forefront. If a person believes that they are eating incompletely washed fruits due to their phobia – the fear of falling ill from consuming unwashed fruits – then in most cases, that’s exactly what will happen.
The most crucial step in overcoming a phobia is, of course, acknowledging its existence and starting to confront it. After this, everything else becomes less challenging.
Here are some phobias for your consideration
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Ablutophobia – fear of taking a bath.
Achluophobia – fear of darkness.
Acrophobia – fear of heights.
Agoraphobia – fear of open spaces or crowds.
Ailurophobia – fear of cats.
Anthrophobia – fear of flowers (vegetation).
Anthropophobia – fear of people or society.
Arachnophobia – fear of spiders.
Autophobia – fear of being alone.
Bathmophobia – fear of stairs and steep slopes.
Botanophobia – fear of plants.
Chionophobia – fear of snow.
Chromophobia – fear of colors.
Claustrophobia – fear of confined spaces.
Cynophobia – fear of dogs.
Dentophobia – fear of dentists.
Entomophobia – fear of insects.
Entomophobia – fear of insects.
Ephebiphobia – fear of teenagers.
Gamophobia – fear of marriage.
Glossophobia – fear of public speaking.
Gynophobia – fear of women.
Hemophobia – fear of blood.
Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia – fear of the number “666.”
Hydrophobia – fear of water.
Iatrophobia – fear of doctors.
Lilapsophobia – fear of tornadoes and hurricanes.
Locaiophobia – fear of childbirth.
Micophobia – fear of small things.
Mysophobia – fear of dirt and germs.
Necrophobia – fear of death and things associated with death.
Noctiphobia – fear of the night.
Nomophobia – fear of not receiving phone calls.
Obesophobia – fear of gaining weight.
Philophobia – fear of love.
Phobophobia – fear of phobias.
Pteromerhanophobia – fear of flying.
Scolionophobia – fear of school.
Socialphobia – fear of social evaluation.
Somniphobia – fear of falling asleep.
Tachophobia – fear of speed.
Tonitrophobia – fear of thunder.
Vermiphobia – fear of germs.
Xenophobia – fear of strangers or foreigners.
Zoophobia – fear of animals.
image on top: Monsters, Inc. / Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar Animation Studios
