The Psychology of Fear (for dummies)

Everyone is scared of something. But is there some thing that everyone is scared of? What is the scariest thing possible? Is it thunder? Could it be shadows? Or perhaps being burned alive? The scariest thing, when seeking a universal fear that transcends cultural, age, and neurological differences, lies in the realm of the mind. To comprehend the origins of fear, we have to delve into the complicated process of how fears are learned.

Well That's a Shocker!

In an experiment, fear conditioning was employed to create a new fear response in an individual. The subject was electrically shocked and startled by the sound of a human scream in conjunction with certain visuals on a screen. The goal was to condition the individual to fear something mundane and harmless - a purple square, an object that people generally do not find threatening. As the experiment progressed, the subject's physiological reactions as an indirect measure of fear that cannot be consciously controlled, such as perspiration, were monitored . The results revealed a clear pattern: the subject's fear response was triggered only when the purple square appeared on screen, even when the electric shock did not come.

The conditioning process demonstrated that the human brain can learn to associate fear with almost anything, even a harmless geometric shape. This conditioning, parallel to Pavlov's classic experiments with dogs, illustrates how negative stimuli can effectively create fear responses. The neurological reinforcements of fear conditioning involve the brain associating a previously neutral stimulus (the purple square) with a callous and negative outcome (electric shock and the sound of a scream).

This experiment highlights the malleability of the human brain when it comes to fear, showcasing the ability to instill fear in response to a seemingly benign stimulus. Understanding the neurological process behind fear-conditioning provides insights into the potential that fear is universal and the profound impact it can have on the human experience.

During fear-conditioning, various processes occur in the brain, particularly in the amygdala, a structure that is vital for determining the perceived danger of stimuli. The amygdala is positioned at the forefront of the hippocampus, contributing to the brain's memory systems. It plays an important role in recognizing and prioritizing information that is essential for survival.

Humans have two amygdalae, one in each hemisphere, and these structures are central to fear research. The amygdala is associated with fear responses and the anticipation of innate aversions - those sensations that are instinctively within us, but are unpleasant, such as pain, sickness, or the need to breathe.

Fear conditioning involves associating a neutral stimulus, like a purple square, with a deeply unsettling experience, such as electric shocks. The amygdala rapidly forms this association, creating a connection between the neutral stimulus and the innate aversion which leads to the arousal of fear responses when a person encounters the stimulus.

We can liken the amygdala to a spider weaving a web of fear, with the web pre-stocked with innate aversions. When an experience becomes linked to an innate aversion, it's like a fly landing on the web, alerting the amygdala spider, which then strengthens the connection between the experience and the associated aversion. This process contributes to an individual's personal cluster of fears.

To uncover the scariest thing, we should explore the darker aspect of this web. Ultimately, everything caught in the web of fear is somehow connected to the primal fear of death, as when we look back in our evolution, fear was essential to aiding us in avoiding death. However, death itself may not be universally the scariest thing, as people's perspectives on death vary. Acts of courage, self-sacrifice, and even suicides reveal that there are fears more profound than the fear of death. So, what is it?

The transmission of fears across generations and individuals often involves storytelling and language. Human language, describing events causing us to create a virtual reality in our minds based on the descriptions. This has the power to evoke emotional responses by activating the amygdala through words and scenarios. To put it into perspective; when someone shares a scary story, the listener's imagination is engaged, creating vivid mental images and enhancing the emotional impact on them.

Evolution

As a species, humans are dependent and vulnerable compared to other animals. We don't have sharp teeth, big claws, or high speed, humans take years to become self-sufficient. During these developmental years, information about the environment is sometimes collected through stories, helping individuals discern what to fear and what not to fear.

In modern times, new fears have emerged, such as nomophobia - the fear of being without one's mobile phone. As technology evolves, so do the sources of fear. The fear of isolation, highlighted by the reliance on constant connectivity, suggests that social and technological changes now contribute to shaping our fears.

So, the scariest thing may involve tapping into our innate aversion to isolation, emphasizing the importance of social connection and the fear of being disconnected from the world around us. I know - scary right? As unnerving as that may be it still is not a universal fear prevalent in all humans, but let's talk about it...

The fear of being alone is deeply rooted in human nature as social animals. Research indicates that social isolation has adverse effects on physical health, increasing the risk of heart problems, cancer, and overall mortality. The connection between isolation and survival is therefore obviously significant, reflecting our evolutionary need for social bonds to enhance our chances of survival.

Isolation can also capture tertiary fears indirectly linked to death, such as the fear of public speaking. The fear of rejection during public speaking taps into the primal fear of being disliked, leading to a sense of isolation. While not directly causing death, these fears connect to the innate aversion to isolation, learned through evolution as a threat to survival. Make sense? Extreme isolation, as experienced in the isolation room, can have distressing effects, leading to disorientation and a blurred line between dreams and reality. Although some individuals may thrive in solitude, the negative impact of isolation on mental well-being highlights the importance of social connections.

...

Part 2 reveals the one universal fear among all humans