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May 3, 2012 · fear: [noun] an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger. an instance of this emotion. a state marked by this emotion.
Fear is a vital response to physical and emotional danger that has been pivotal throughout human evolution, but especially in ancient times when men and women regularly faced life-or-death situations.
- Did humans evolve to feel specific fears?Throughout human history, certain animals, such as snakes and spiders, have caused high numbers of deaths. Thus, some researchers believe, men and...
- How do children learn fear?Research shows that babies do not appear to show signs of fear until around 8 to 12 months of age, usually in response to new people or events, but...
- Why do people sometimes seek out scary experiences?There are times when people actively pursue experiences that could scare them, like a roller coaster or a haunted house attraction . Some research...
- What everyday fears can hold us back?Some feelings commonly described as “fears” are not strictly phobias, but mental obstacles that limit people’s actions and decisions, often prevent...
- What is agoraphobia?Agoraphobia is the fear of situations that would be difficult to escape from or from which it would be difficult to get help, such as being in a m...
- Why do many people have a fear of heights?Fear of heights is a common phobia, and one that is often experienced intensely. In fact, the symptoms often mirror those of a panic attack, inclu...
- Why do so many people fear public speaking?It’s often stated that the fear of public speaking is the most common phobia. It isn’t; only about one in four people report experiencing it. But...
- How can someone overcome the fear of public speaking?Preparation, practice, support from others, and learning to put oneself in a calmer, more relaxed state can all help ease the fear of public speak...
- Why do people fear clowns?Clown-like characters have been a part of popular culture for centuries. Yet some people have always found them creepy, and about 2 percent of the...
Fear is an intensely unpleasant primal emotion in response to perceiving or recognizing a danger or threat. Fear causes psychological changes that may produce behavioral reactions such as mounting an aggressive response or fleeing the threat. Fear in human beings may occur in response to a certain stimulus occurring in the present, or in ...
People also ask
Is fear a biochemical or emotional response?
What is the difference between fear and emotional response?
What is a fear response?
Is fear a natural emotion?
- Overview
- Symptoms of Fear
- Diagnosing Fear
- Causes of Fear
- Types of Fear
- Treatment of Fear
- Coping With Fear
- Summary
According to psychology research, fear is a primal emotion that involves a universal biochemical response and a high individual emotional response. Fear alerts us to the presence of danger or the threat of harm, whether that danger is physical or psychological.
Sometimes fear stems from real threats, but it can also originate from imagined dangers. While fear is a natural response to some situations, it can also lead to distress and disruption when extreme or out of proportion to the actual threat.
Fear can also be a symptom of some mental health conditions, including panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, phobias, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Fear is composed of two primary reactions to some type of perceived threat: biochemical and emotional.
Biochemical Reaction
Fear is a natural emotion and a survival mechanism. When we confront a perceived threat, our bodies respond in specific ways. Physical reactions to fear include sweating, increased heart rate, and high adrenaline levels that make us extremely alert.
Fear often involves both physical and emotional symptoms. Each person may experience fear differently, but some of the common signs and symptoms include:
•Chest pain
•Chills
•Dry mouth
•Nausea
•Rapid heartbeat
Talk to your doctor if you are experiencing persistent and excessive feelings of fear. Your doctor may conduct a physical exam and perform lab tests to ensure that your fear and anxiety are not linked to an underlying medical condition.
Your doctor will also ask questions about your symptoms including how long you've been having them, their intensity, and situations that tend to trigger them. Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may diagnose you with a type of anxiety disorder, such as a phobia.
Fear is incredibly complex and there is no single, primary cause. Some fears may result from experiences or trauma, while others may represent a fear of something else entirely, such as a loss of control. Still, other fears may occur because they cause physical symptoms, such as being afraid of heights because they make you feel dizzy and sick to your stomach.
Some common fear triggers include:
•Certain specific objects or situations (spiders, snakes, heights, flying, etc)
•Future events
•Imagined events
•Real environmental dangers
Some of the different types of anxiety disorders that are characterized by fear include:
•Agoraphobia
•Generalized anxiety disorder
•Panic disorder
•Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
•Separation anxiety disorder
Repeated exposure to similar situations leads to familiarity, which can dramatically reduce both the fear response. This approach forms the basis of some phobia treatments, which depend on slowly minimizing the fear response by making it feel familiar.
Phobia treatments that are based on the psychology of fear tend to focus on techniques like systematic desensitization and flooding. Both techniques work with your body’s physiological and psychological responses to reduce fear.
There are also steps that you can take to help cope with fear in day to day life. Such strategies focus on managing the physical, emotional, and behavioral effects of fear. Some things you can do include:
•Get social support. Having supportive people in your life can help you manage your feelings of fear.
•Practice mindfulness. While you cannot always prevent certain emotions, being mindful can help you manage them and replace negative thoughts with more helpful ones.
•Use stress management techniques such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and visualization.
Fear is an important human emotion that can help protect you from danger and prepare you to take action, but it can also lead to longer-lasting feelings of anxiety. Findings ways to control your fear can help you better cope with these feelings and prevent anxiety from taking hold.
If you or a loved one are struggling with fears, phobias, or anxiety, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database.
5 Common Effects of Phobias on Your Emotions and Personality
6 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Jul 20, 2023 · Fear is a basic, emotional response to a perceived threat or danger. It triggers the body's 'fight-or-flight' response, leading to physiological changes like increased heart rate and adrenaline levels. Fear is an essential survival mechanism, helping individuals react to potentially life-threatening situations. It can respond to immediate, tangible threats and more abstract or future concerns ...
Nov 19, 2015 · 6. Fear dictates the actions you take. Actions motivated by fear fall into four types—freeze, fight, flight, or fright. Freeze means you stop what you are doing and focus on the fearful stimulus ...
Oct 25, 2022 · Fear is a natural and normal human experience. We all feel it from time to time, and there are situations when we rely on fear to keep us out of trouble. “Fear is healthy and adaptive,” says ...
