According to the Oxford dictionary, fear is defined as “an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm”. As this emotion is often associated with negativity and often causes intense and impulsive behaviour, fear is not only unpleasant but unwanted. However, we cannot ignore its significance when it comes to our survival and even pleasure.
What is the difference between fear and anxiety?
As mentioned, the definition of fear in short is the negative emotion caused by danger; however, we need to understand the difference between fear and anxiety. According to Dr. Sonia Bishop, an associate professor at the University of California, fear is the natural reaction of danger that is in front of us. In the moment when quick decisions must be made, such as encountering an aggressive dog or a car speeding towards you.
Anxiety is defined to be the wariness of a long-term threat, the different possibilities that may endanger us. National Geographic’s video on ‘How Fear and Anxiety Drove Human Evolution’ discusses how these situations create different responses from humans. As uncertain situations are caused, humans have the want to be in control as we do not know the possibilities that will happen next. Some responses include the Zero Risk bias, which is essentially our method of attempting to eliminate any risks from an uncertain situation. An example would be an economic crisis and many people would panic buy in a frenzy such as the shortage of toilet paper during Covid 19 times.
How is fear processed in the brain?
The amygdala is an essential part of our brain which controls how humans experience emotions and major processing, including fear of course. As discussed the difference between fear and anxiety, our brain processes both similarly yet with a few differences. Fear is caused by a stimulus which triggers the response in the amygdala, which then activates preparation for motor functions such as the fight or flight response. This function is almost like an alert system, releasing various amounts of neurotransmitters. Our blood pressure increases, adrenaline kicks in, stress hormones are released while our heart rate quickens, and faster breathing. Our fight or flight kicks in as our blood flows more to our limbs rather than our brains in order for humans to quickly react physically. Attributes we have all experienced beforehand.
How do our brains process anxiety?
While fear and anxiety may cause physical behavioural issues, the response from our amygdala is essential for short-term fear. However, long term threats cause more complications. When our brains is challenged with long term threats and possibilities, the neurons in our prefrontal cortex, responsible for reasoning and decision making, will deteriorate while the neuron branches in the amygdala continue to grow. This causes stronger responses to these unwanted situations as it gets less-regulated, which may lead to anxiety and possibly depression and trauma.
Evolutionary significance
There are multiple fundamental characteristics that have helped us as humans survive and evolve such as communities, food, shelter, walking on two feet, the list goes on. And fear is one of the most important factors in this list that has helped humans continue to survive and evolve to where we are today. If humans could not feel any fear, we simply wouldn’t be here right now. Although unpleasant, this emotion was significant to our evolution as it continued to assist our survival, especially considering how vulnerable humans were thousands of years ago with much more dire and dangerous threats and situations around them. These threats and situations were the main deciding point on death and survival. From fear, humans adapted, and now with all the knowledge we have from the generations of facing danger, we are safer than ever when it comes to dangers around the world and most of us now understand essential survival skills.
Why do some people like being scared?
From horror houses, horror movies, and roller coasters, there are many activities humans have designed to intentionally scare us for the sake of entertainment. And although some find it strange, others love it. What matters is the context behind this fear. In real life danger, we are focused on survival as it is most often life or death situations. However, when we feel fear in environments we know we are safer in, our brains associate the threat response with a more euphoric response. Our bodies understand that we aren’t in an actual dangerous situation. Of course, the aftermath of these reactions play a big role in how we perceive fear. If you were in a situation where a car almost hit you, the assumed reaction would be shakiness and continuous fear, possibly trauma. However, a small jump scare from a horror movie or getting off a roller coaster may cause a rush of adrenaline. These adrenaline rushes release endorphins and dopamine, meaning that these reactions cause chemical processes which are the same when humans experience happiness.
Conclusion
Although fear and anxiety is mostly unwanted and some attempt to avoid it as much as possible, it is still necessary to understand how fear has continued to contribute to our species' growth and learning and how we wouldn’t be here right now if our ancestors didn’t feel an ounce of this emotion.
Sources
https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/emotional-health/5-things-you-never-knew-about-fear#:~:text=Stresshormones like cortisol and,or run for your life.
https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/emotions/fear3.htm#:~:text=In humans and in all,to pass on their genes.
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/how-fear-and-anxiety-drove-human-evolution/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-the-brain-gathers-threat-cues-and-turns-them-into-fear
https://www.bps.org.uk/blog/why-do-we-be-scared-psychology-fear-fright-nights-and-exploring-unknown#
https://www.iso.cuhk.edu.hk/english/publications/cuhkupdates/article.aspx?articleid=2632#:~:text='It all began when some,'
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/humans-brain-power-origins/
https://stand.ucla.edu/tips/understanding-fear-and-anxiety#:~:text=Anxiety and fear are natural,while walking in the street.
Comentarios