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fear

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Dictionary: fear   (fîr) pronunciation
 
n.
    1. A feeling of agitation and anxiety caused by the presence or imminence of danger.
    2. A state or condition marked by this feeling: living in fear.
  1. A feeling of disquiet or apprehension: a fear of looking foolish.
  2. Extreme reverence or awe, as toward a supreme power.
  3. A reason for dread or apprehension: Being alone is my greatest fear.

v., feared, fear·ing, fears.

v.tr.
  1. To be afraid or frightened of.
  2. To be uneasy or apprehensive about: feared the test results.
  3. To be in awe of; revere.
  4. To consider probable; expect: I fear you are wrong. I fear I have bad news for you.
  5. Archaic. To feel fear within (oneself).
v.intr.
  1. To be afraid.
  2. To be uneasy or apprehensive.

[Middle English fer, from Old English fǣr, danger, sudden calamity.]

fearer fear'er n.

SYNONYMS  fear, fright, dread, terror, horror, panic, alarm, dismay, consternation, trepidation. These nouns denote the agitation and anxiety caused by the presence or imminence of danger. Fear is the most general term: “Fear is the parent of cruelty” (J.A. Froude). Fright is sudden, usually momentary, great fear: In my fright, I forgot to lock the door. Dread is strong fear, especially of what one is powerless to avoid: His dread of strangers kept him from socializing. Terror is intense, overpowering fear: “And now at the dead hour of the night, amid the dreadful silence of that old house, so strange a noise as this excited me to uncontrollable terror” (Edgar Allan Poe). Horror is a combination of fear and aversion or repugnance: Murder arouses widespread horror. Panic is sudden frantic fear, often groundless: The fire caused a panic among the horses. Alarm is fright aroused by the first realization of danger: I watched with alarm as the sky darkened. Dismay robs one of courage or the power to act effectively: The rumor of war caused universal dismay. Consternation is often paralyzing, characterized by confusion and helplessness: Consternation gripped the city as the invaders approached. Trepidation is dread characteristically marked by trembling or hesitancy: “They were … full of trepidation about things that were never likely to happen” (John Morley).

WORD HISTORY   Old English fǣr, the ancestor of our word fear, meant “calamity, disaster,” but not the emotion engendered by such an event. This is in line with the meaning of the prehistoric Common Germanic word *fēraz, “danger,” which is the source of words with similar senses in other Germanic languages, such as Old Saxon and Old High German fār, “ambush, danger,” and Old Icelandic fār, “treachery, damage.” Scholars have determined the form and meaning of Germanic *fēraz by working backward from the forms and the meanings of its descendants. The most important cause of the change of meaning in the word fear was probably the existence in Old English of the related verb fǣran, which meant “to terrify, take by surprise.” Fear is first recorded in Middle English with the sense “emotion of fear” in a work composed around 1290.


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Thesaurus: fear
 

noun

    Great agitation and anxiety caused by the expectation or the realization of danger: affright, alarm, apprehension, dread, fearfulness, fright, funk, horror, panic, terror, trepidation. Slang cold feet. Idioms: fear and trembling. See fear/courage.

verb

    To be afraid of: dread. Idioms: have one's heart in one's mouth. See fear/courage.

 
Antonyms: fear
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n

Definition: alarm, apprehension
Antonyms: bravery, courage, fearlessness, heroism, unconcern

v

Definition: feel alarm; be scared of
Antonyms: brave


 

n

An emotion, generally considered negative and unpleasant, that is a reaction to a real or threatened danger; fright. Fear is distinguished from anxiety, which is a reaction to an unreal or imagined danger.

 

Definition

Fear is an intense aversion to or apprehension of a person, place, activity, event, or object that causes emotional distress and often avoidance behavior. Fears are common in childhood.

Description

More than 50 percent of children experience normal phobias, which is the fear of a specific object, or more general worries, called anxieties, before they are 18 years old. For adults it may be helpful to distinguish between rational fears, such as fear of snakes or guns, which are survival mechanisms and serve to protect a person from danger; and irrational fears, or phobias, which cannot be traced to any reasonable cause.

Most children have some fears. Fears are normal, and can be a good thing. For example, children need to know they should not run into a street. They need to know not to play with knives. A little fear is good, but too much fear is a problem. So is too little fear. A child with too much fear may not want to leave the house. A child with not enough fear may get into a stranger's car. Children's personalities also will influence their fears. One child may be scared of more things than another child. Some children are braver, while others are more shy and fearful.

Many childhood fears fall somewhere between the rational and irrational, occurring in phases as the child or adolescent is exposed to new experiences and as both cognitive reasoning and the capacity for imagination develop. Whether a child's fear is considered normal generally depends on his or her age, background, and most importantly on how much it interferes with his or her normal daily activities. Fear of water may be considered normal in a child who has never learned how to swim, but it might be considered abnormal in the adolescent son of a coastal fisherman.

The most significant factors in overcoming fear are identifying the fear, developing a sense of control over the feared environment, and envisioning alternatives to the feared negative outcomes. Forcing children to perform activities they are afraid to do destroys, rather than builds, autonomy and self-confidence. If a child refuses to do something or explicitly voices fear, those feelings should be taken seriously and explored through questions and discussion. Parents can ask the child or adolescent what change can be made to accommodate the fear in order to make him or her feel more in control.

Some research suggests that reading scary picture books functions as a courage-building tool for children and helps them face their fears in a controlled environment; they are free to turn the page or to remind themselves that the monster is not real. Horror stories or movies may serve the same purpose for teens but not for children who cannot exercise the same level of choice by leaving the theater and should not be exposed to disturbing movies.

Infancy

Babies fear falling, being dropped, and loud noises. A fear of strangers is also common in infants starting at the age of seven to nine months and lasting until about 18 months, when it begins to decrease. Fear symptoms in infants are primarily crying, stiffening, and sometimes shaking.

Toddlerhood

Fears among toddlers include strangers, animals, bugs, storms, sirens, large objects, dark colors, darkness, people with masks, monsters, and "bad" people, such as burglars. Children at this age also commonly fear being separated from their parents. Fear symptoms in toddlers include crying and avoidance of the feared person or object.

Preschool

Preschoolers fear being separated from parents, being left alone or sleeping alone, and imaginary figures, such as ghosts, monsters, and supernatural beings. Symptoms may be physical, such as a stomachache or headache.

School Age

In younger school-age children, fears include separation anxiety; death; violence, such as in war or murder; kidnapping and physical injury; natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, and tornados; and anxiety about academic achievement and other forms of school performance. Children at age seven often have a fear of not being liked while children ages eight and nine may worry about personal inabilities.

In older adolescents, common fears include anxiety about school achievement, social rejection and related worries, and sexual anxieties, including dating and sexually transmitted diseases, especially human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Symptoms in adolescents and teens include anger, avoidance, and denial of the fear, and panic reactions, such as sweating, trembling, fast heartbeat, and rapid breathing.

Nearly all fears have a scientific name, such as triskaidekaphobia, the fear of the number 13. In the classic Christmas television special, "A Charlie Brown Christmas," Charlie Brown had pantophobia, the fear of everything. Other common fears include:

  • ailurophobia (fear of cats)
  • didaskaleinophobia (fear of going to school)
  • entomophobia (fear of insects)
  • glossophobia (fear of speaking)
  • myctophobia (fear of darkness)
  • ophidiaphobia (fear of snakes)
  • xenophobia (fear of strangers or foreigners)
  • zoophobia (fear of animals)

Common Problems

Research shows that most children report having several fears at any given age. Some research shows that 90 percent of children ages two to 14 have at least one specific fear. If the fear does not interfere with the child's daily life, such as sleeping, going to school, and engaging in social activities, then professional help is generally not needed.

Phobias belong to a large group of mental problems known as anxiety disorders and can be divided into three specific types: specific phobias (formerly called simple phobias), social phobias, and agoraphobia.

A specific phobia is the fear of a particular situation or object, including anything from airplane travel to dentists. Found in one out of every ten Americans, specific phobias seem to run in families and are roughly twice as likely to appear in women. If the person rarely encounters the feared object, the phobia does not cause much harm. However, if the feared object or situation is common, it can seriously disrupt everyday life. Common examples of specific phobias, which can begin at any age, are fear of snakes, flying, dogs, escalators, elevators, high places, or open spaces.

People with social phobia have deep fears of being watched or judged by others and of being embarrassed in public. Common social phobias in children include reading aloud in front of a class; participating in a musical, drama, or athletic event; starting or joining in a conversation; talking to adults; attending social events, such as dances and parties; taking tests; attending physical education class; using school or public bathrooms; and asking a teacher for help.

Social phobia is not the same as shyness. Shy people may feel uncomfortable with others, but they do not experience severe anxiety, they do not worry excessively about social situations beforehand, and they do not avoid events that make them feel self-conscious. On the other hand, people with social phobia may not be shy; they may feel perfectly comfortable with people except in a public place. This feeling usually begins about age 15 and affects three times as many women as men.

An episode of spontaneous panic is usually the initial trigger for the development of agoraphobia. After an initial panic attack, the person becomes afraid of experiencing a second one. Patients literally "fear the fear," and worry incessantly about when and where the next attack may occur. As they begin to avoid the places or situations in which the panic attack occurred, their fear generalizes. Eventually the person completely avoids public places. In severe cases, people with agoraphobia can no longer leave their homes for fear of experiencing a panic attack.

Agoraphobia is the intense fear of feeling trapped and having a panic attack in specific situations. Social phobias may be only mildly irritating, or they may significantly interfere with daily life. It is not unusual for people with social phobia to turn down job offers or avoid relationships because of their fears.

Parental Concerns

While normal fears tend to be experienced in phases and tend to be outgrown by adulthood, abnormal fears are those that are persistent and recurrent or fears that interfere with daily activities for at least a month. Abnormal fears, including extreme separation anxiety, being afraid to go to school, or extreme social fears, may indicate an anxiety disorder.

When to Call the Doctor

When children's fears persist beyond the age when they are appropriate, they can begin to interfere with their daily lives. Typically, children who experience this type of irrational fear, or phobia, should get treatment from a psychologist.

The most popular and effective treatment for phobias is behavior therapy, which approaches the phobia as an undesirable behavior to be unlearned. Most often it takes the form of desensitization, a technique by which the fearful person is exposed to the feared stimulus in an extremely mild form and then with gradually increasing degrees of intensity. For example, a child who fears dogs may first be asked to look at pictures of dogs, then perhaps play with a stuffed dog or view a dog from afar, ultimately getting to the point when she is able to pet and play with dogs.

Phobias also respond to treatment by medication, including anti-anxiety drugs such as Xanax and BuSpar and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as Prozac and Zoloft. Medication is especially helpful for social phobia, where it can help the child overcome her aversion to social interaction sufficiently to work with a therapist. When agoraphobia accompanies panic attacks, it also responds to cognitive-behavioral treatment for panic disorder, often in conjunction with anti-anxiety and antidepressant medications similar to those prescribed for other phobias.

Before, during, and after exposure to the source of fear, the child can begin to imagine controlling the environment and his own reactions in other ways. Creative visualization, for example, imagining a switch the child can use to control his fear when visiting the doctor or dentist, can sometimes be effective. A comforting ritual, a familiar object, or thoughts of a beloved person can be used as a good luck charm before embarking on a scary trip or performing a task such as speaking in class or sleeping alone. Relaxation techniques can also be taught to older children.

Resources

Books

Chansky, Tamar E. Freeing Your Child from Anxiety: Powerful, Practical Solutions to Overcome Your Child'sFears, Worries, and Phobias. New York: Broadway Books, 2004.

Foxman, Paul. The Worried Child: Recognizing Anxiety in Children and Helping Them Heal. Alameda, CA: Hunter House, 2004.

Ollendick, Thomas H., and John S. March. Phobic and Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents: A Clinician's Guide to Effective Psychosocial and Pharmacological Interventions. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2003.

Spencer, Elizabeth DuPont, et al. The Anxiety Cure for Kids: A Guide for Parents. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2003.

Periodicals

Dragon, Natalie. "Behind the Headlines: Could TB Pill Help Banish Phobias?" GP (December 15, 2003): 39.

Epstein, Randi Hutter. "Experts Try Fast-Track Fix for Children with Phobias." The New York Times (January 20, 2004): F5.

London, Robert T. "Conquering Phobias." Clinical Psychiatry News (May 2004): 43.

Purvis, Patty. "Fear of Talking (Selective Mutism)." Clinical Reference Systems (Annual 2002): 1261.

Travis, John. "Fear Not: Scientists Are Learning How People Can Unlearn Fear." Science News (January 17, 2004): 42–4.

Tucker, Libby. "Fear Factors: Everyone Reacts to Fear Differently. Scientists Are Beginning to Understand Why." Science World (February 7, 2003): 14–15.

Organizations

Anxiety Disorders Association of America. 8730 Georgia Ave., Suite 600, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Web site: www.adaa.org.

Mood and Anxiety Disorders Institute. Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit St., Boston, MA 02114. Web site: www.mghmadi.org.

Web Sites

"The Anxious Child." American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, December 2000. Available online at www.aacap.org/publications/factsFam/anxious.htm (accessed December 10, 2004).

"Helping Your Child Deal with Fears & Phobias." Child Development Institute, March 25, 2004. Available online at www.childdevelopmentinfo.com/disorders/fears.htm (accessed December 10, 2004).

[Article by: Ken R. Wells]



 

An emotion characterized by unpleasant feelings of tension evoked by a specific situation or object. Physiological changes associated with fear include increases in heart rate, blood pressure, and sweating. Behavioural changes can include an overwhelming desire to avoid the fear-evoking situation.

 
Psychoanalysis: Fear
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The term fear, whose metapsychological status remains uncertain, was used by Freud, in contrast to anxiety, to refer to the reaction to some real danger. In several works Freud discussed the semantic relationship between the terms Angst (anxiety), Furcht (apprehension, fear), and Schreck (fright). For Freud the distinction between anxiety and fear relates primarily to its object, a distinction found in his earliest writings. In an article from 1895, which discusses the distinguishing characteristics of phobias and obsessions, he differentiates phobias "according to the object of the fear," while anxiety refers to the emotional state experienced by the subject, without reference to a specific object (1895c [1894]). Similarly, in 1916, in his Introduction to Psychoanalysis (1916-1917a [1915-1917]), Freud, referring to the use of these terms in popular speech, indicated that "anxiety is related to a state with no direct allusion to an object, while in fear the person's attention is precisely focused on the object."

In 1920, in Beyond the Pleasure Principle (1920g), Freud emphasized the difference between fear and anxiety in terms of their relation to danger: Anxiety is a state characterized by the expectation and preparation for a danger, "even if unknown," while fear implies a determinate object. In Inhibitions, Symptoms, and Anxiety (1926d [1925]), he further insisted on the association of anxiety with a state of expectancy and the use of the term fear—"in keeping with current usage"—to represent the situation when anxiety has found an object.

We see that the term fear is quoted with reference primarily to contemporary language. According to Catherine Cyssau, fear has no means of representation and its object does not conform to the criteria for repression. Although the status of anxiety, as an affect, occurs early in the development of Freudian theory, fear is more uncertain and seems to fall mostly within the context of behavioral description. Moreover, the opposition between fear and anxiety is hardly ever mentioned in Freud's later writings, especially in the New Introductory Lectures on Psychoanalysis (1933a [1932]), where the theory of anxiety is again discussed.

In fact, another concept appeared in 1916 in Freud's writings, that of "Realangst," which can be translated as "realistic anxiety" or "anxiety in the face of a real danger," and which is contrasted with neurotic anxiety or the anxiety of desire. In the Introduction to Psychoanalysis, Freud emphasized the rational and comprehensive nature of realistic anxiety, triggered by the perception of an external danger, that is, under conditions that can give rise to fear. From then on the fundamental question, to which he would frequently return, was that of the conditions required for the emergence of anxiety, a signal triggered by an external or internal danger.

In post-Freudian work the concept of fear is essentially used to characterize certain infantile manifestations of anxiety. Anna Freud, in particular, insisted on the structural differentiation between archaic, or primitive, fears and the phobias. It is important to remember that the "fear of the stranger's face," which, as described by René Spitz, arises in the infant when it is between six and eight months old, raises the question of determining if this reaction should be interpreted as a realistic anxiety responding to an external danger—the face perceived as unknown—or if it is an expression of unpleasure and the internal threat caused by the absence of the maternal object.

Fright, or Schreck, which is associated in several Freudian texts with traumatic neurosis, corresponds to the effects of a danger for which the subject "is not prepared by an earlier state of anxiety" (1916-1917a [1915-1917]). Freud goes on to say that anxiety contains "something that protects against fright" (1920g).

Roger Dorey has remarked that Freud, in The Interpretation of Dreams (1900a), described, in contrast to the "primary experience of satisfaction," an "experience of fright whose origin is external" and which leaves behind a painful memory trace that the primitive psychic apparatus tries to avoid. This flight before the memory of the present pain, is, according to Freud, the "model and first example of psychic repression." Thus, the prototype of fright is nothing but the experience of object loss, an experience that submerges the primitive psychic apparatus in excitations it is unable to control. For Dorey this "painful memory image" of the absent object forms a representation that contributes to the formation of the primal unconscious.

Bibliography

Cyssau, Catherine. (1997). La peur et les phobies: des név-roses d'angoisse à l'hystérie d'angoisse. In A. Fine, A. Le Guen, A. Oppenheimer (Eds.), Peurs et phobies. Paris: P.U.F.

Dorey, Roger. (1988). Le Désir de savoir. Paris: Denoël.

Freud, Sigmund. (1895a [1894]). (1916-1917a [1915-1917]). Introductory lectures on psycho-analysis (Parts I and II). SE, 15-16.

——. (1920g). Beyond the pleasure principle. SE, 18: 1-64.

—CLAUDE BURSZTEJN

 

A normal emotional response to consciously recognized external sources of danger such as those often associated with loud noises, threatening gestures, strange people and thunderstorms; it is manifested in animals by flight, by attack or by cringing.

 

A natural, helpful reaction that sharpens your senses
There is an element of danger in boating that cannot be eradicated. Consequently, there is always something for boaters to fear— which happens to be a good thing.If you spend sufficient time afloat, sooner or later you will experience fear; but, if you understand that fact and accept it before you set out, you will deal with the fear-provoking situation more easily when it arises.Fear is often greater when you’re alone and forced to fall back on your own resources. It seems to be a perfectly natural part of single-handed sailing, no matter how macho you might feel before or afterward. According to research done by solo sailor, Dr. David Lewis, in collaboration with the Medical Research Council in Great Britain, four out of five contestants in the first single-handed transatlantic race experienced not only fear, but acute fear.Lewis discovered, however, that they did not afterward recall the extent of their fear. They remembered that they were scared but couldn’t say how badly. Lewis deduced that “observations noted at the time are the only valid ones. I honestly forgot that I had been frightened at all during one gale until I looked up my notes.”In general, there are two types of fear. The first includes those generalized tensions and anxieties familiar to everyone when we move to a new house, change jobs, get married, or take an exam. Fortunately, this kind of fear mostly disappears after a few days: once we adapt to the new circumstances, they become less frightening.The second type of fear is more specific: an approaching storm, a risky feat of navigation, a collision with a balk of timber, and so on.“As long as fear is the response to actual danger, it is a natural and even useful phenomenon,” says Dr. Michael Stadler in The Psychology of Sailing. He adds that fear in an ample (but not excessive) degree can sharpen your senses and improve your capacity to anticipate and assess the risks inherent in certain situations.Seasoned sailors, therefore, experience anxiety before the danger arrives and are in a better position to deal with or even avoid it. Inexperienced sailors may wander blindly into danger and then become incapacitated with fear when it’s too late.Richard Henderson, the well-known American sailor and author, believes the best weapon against fear is self-confidence, built up by “careful preparation, attention to one’s health, seeing that the boat is sound and well equipped, learning all one can about the proposed route and weather conditions, preparing for all possible emergencies, and gradually building experience.”See also Single-Handed Sailing.


 
Word Tutor: fear
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pronunciation

IN BRIEF: An unpleasant emotion caused by expectation or awareness of danger.

pronunciation Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear. — Mark Twain, (1835-1910), American writer, pen name for Samuel Langhorne Clemens.

 
Quotes About: Fear
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Quotes:

"Action conquers fear." - Peter Nivio Zarlenga

"Less base the fear of death than fear of life." - Edward Young

"A man's doubts and fears are his worst enemies." - William Wrigley Jr.

"Fear God and you need not fear anyone else." - Woodrow T. Wilson

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you NOT to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us, it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." - Marianne Williamson

"To live with fear and not be afraid is the final test of maturity." - Edward Weeks

See more famous quotes about Fear

 
Wikipedia: Fear
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A scared child shows fear in an uncertain environment.

Fear is an emotional response to threats and danger. It is a basic survival mechanism occurring in response to a specific stimulus, such as pain or the threat of pain. Psychologists John B. Watson, Robert Plutchik, and Paul Ekman have suggested that fear is one of a small set of basic or innate emotions. This set also includes such emotions as joy, sadness, and anger. Fear should be distinguished from the related emotional state of anxiety, which typically occurs without any external threat. Additionally, fear is related to the specific behaviors of escape and avoidance, whereas anxiety is the result of threats which are perceived to be uncontrollable or unavoidable.[1] Worth noting is that fear always relates to future events, such as worsening of a situation, or continuation of a situation that is unacceptable.

Contents

Etymology

The Old English term fear meant not the emotion engendered by a calamity or disaster, but rather the event itself. The first recorded usage of the term "fear" with the sense of the “emotion of fear” is found in a medieval work written in Middle English, composed circa 1290. The most probable explanation for the change in the meaning of the word "fear" is the existence in Old English of the related verb frighten, which meant “to terrify, take by surprise”.[2]

Description

A vivid description of fear was provided by Charles Darwin in his book, The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals:

Fear is often preceded by astonishment, and is so far akin to it, that both lead to the senses of sight and hearing being instantly aroused. In both cases the eyes and mouth are widely opened, and the eyebrows raised. The frightened man at first stands like a statue motionless and breathless, or crouches down as if instinctively to escape observation. The heart beats quickly and violently, so that it palpitates or knocks against the ribs... That the skin is much affected under the sense of great fear, we see in the marvellous manner in which perspiration immediately exudes from it... The hairs also on the skin stand erect; and the superficial muscles shiver. In connection witih the disturbed action of the heart, the breathing is hurried. The salivary glands act imperfectly; the mouth becomes dry, and is often opened and shut.[3]

The facial expression of fear includes the widening of the eyes (out of anticipation for what will happen next); the pupils dilate (to take in more light); the upper lip rises, the brows draw together, and the lips stretch horizontally. The physiological effects of fear can be better understood from the perspective of the sympathetic nervous responses (fight-or-flight), as compared to the parasympathetic response, which is a more relaxed state. Muscles used for physical movement are tightened and primed with oxygen, in preparation for a physical fight-or-flight response. Perspiration occurs due to blood being shunted from body's viscera to the peripheral parts of the body. Blood that is shunted from the viscera to the rest of the body will transfer, along with oxygen and nutrients, heat, prompting perspiration to cool the body. When the stimulus is shocking or abrupt, a common reaction is to cover (or otherwise protect) vulnerable parts of the anatomy, particularly the face and head. When a fear stimulus occurs unexpectedly, the victim of the fear response could possibly jump or give a small start. The person's heart-rate and heartbeat may quicken.

Varieties

Fear can be described with different terms in relation to the degree of fear that is experienced. It varies from mild caution to extreme phobia and paranoia. Fear is related to a number of additional cognitive and emotional states including worry, anxiety, terror, horror, panic, and dread. Experiences of fear are, by their very nature, impacting and, in this way, can remain in the unconscious mind long after exposure; where they may then manifest as nightmares. Fear may also be experienced within a larger group or social network. In this way, personal fears are compounded by social influence to become mass hysteria.

The experience of distrust can be explained as a feeling of mild fear or caution, usually in response to an unfamiliar or potentially dangerous person. Distrust may occur as a feeling of warning towards someone or something that is questionable or unknown. For example, one may distrust a stranger who acts in a way that is perceived as odd or unusual. Likewise, one may distrust the safety of a rusty old bridge across a 100-foot drop. Distrust may serve as an adaptive, early warning signal for situations that could lead to greater fear and danger.

Terror is an acute and pronounced form of fear. It is an overwhelming sense of immediate personal danger. It can also be caused by perceiving the object of a phobia. Terror may overwhelm a person to the point of making irrational choices and atypical behavior. Paranoia is a term used to describe a psychosis of fear. It is experienced as longstanding feelings and perceptions of being persecuted. Paranoia is an extreme emotional state combined with cognitions, or more specifically, delusions that one is in danger. This degree of fear may indicate that one has changed his or her normal behavior in extreme or maladaptive ways.

Common fears

According to surveys, some of the most commonly feared objects are spiders, snakes, heights, water, enclosed spaces, tunnels and bridges, social rejection, failure, and public speaking. In an innovative test of what people fear the most, Bill Tancer analyzed the most frequent online search queries that involved the phrase, "fear of...". This follows the assumption that people tend to seek information on the issues that concern them the most. His top ten list of fears consisted of flying, heights, clowns, intimacy, death, rejection, people, snakes, success, and driving.[4] In general, people appear to be most afraid of two things: the threat of pain or death, and the threat of social rejection or isolation.

In a 2005 Gallup poll (U.S.A.), a national sample of adolescents between the ages of 13 and 15 were asked what they feared the most. The question was open ended and participants were able to say whatever they wanted. The most frequently cited fear (mentioned by 8% of the teens) was terrorism. The top ten fears were, in order: terrorist attacks, spiders, death, being a failure, war, heights, criminal or gang violence, being alone, the future, and nuclear war.[5]

A military dog being used to intimidate a prisoner at Abu Ghraib Prison in Iraq

Causes

People develop specific fears as a result of learning. This has been studied in psychology as fear conditioning, beginning with John B. Watson's Little Albert experiment in 1920. In this study, an 11-month-old boy was conditioned to fear a white rat in the laboratory. The fear became generalized to include other white, furry objects. In the real world, fear can be acquired by a frightening traumatic accident. For example, if a child falls into a well and struggles to get out, he or she may develop a fear of wells, heights (acrophobia), enclosed spaces (claustrophobia), or water (aquaphobia).

Although fear is learned, the capacity to fear is part of human nature. Many studies have found that certain fears (e.g. animals, heights) are much more common than others (e.g. flowers, clouds). These fears are also easier to induce in the laboratory. This phenomenon is known as preparedness. Because early humans that were quick to fear dangerous situations were more likely to survive and reproduce, preparedness is theorized to be a genetic effect that is the result of natural selection.

The experience of fear is affected by historical and cultural influences. For example, in the early 20th Century, many Americans feared polio, a disease that cripples the body part it affects, leaving that body part immobilized for the rest of one's life. There are also consistent cross-cultural differences in how people respond to fear. Display rules affect how likely people are to show the facial expression of fear and other emotions.

Neurobiology

The amygdala is a key brain structure in the neurobiology of fear. It is involved in the processing of negative emotions (such as fear and anger). Researchers have observed hyperactivity in the amygdala when patients who were shown threatening faces or confronted with frightening situations. Patients with a more severe social phobia showed a correlation with increased response in the amygdala.[6] Studies have also shown that subjects exposed to images of frightened faces, or faces of people from another race[citation needed], exhibit increased activity in the amygdala.

The fear response generated by the amygdala can be mitigated by another brain region known as the rostral anterior cingulate cortex, located in the frontal lobe. In a 2006 study at Columbia University, researchers observed that test subjects experienced less activity in the amygdala when they consciously perceived fearful stimuli than when they unconsciously perceived fearful stimuli. In the former case, they discovered the rostral anterior cingulate cortex activates to dampen activity in amygdala, granting the subjects a degree of emotional control.[7]

Suppression of amygdala activity can also be achieved by pathogens. Rats infected with the toxoplasmosis parasite become less fearful of cats, sometimes even seeking out their urine-marked areas. This behavior often leads to them being eaten by cats. The parasite then reproduces within the body of the cat. There is evidence that the parasite concentrates itself in the amygdala of infected rats.[8]

Fear and death

Fear of death

Psychologists have addressed the hypothesis that fear of death motivates religious commitment, and that it may be alleviated by assurances about an afterlife. Empirical research on this topic has been equivocal. According to Kahoe and Dunn, people who are most firm in their faith and attend religious services weekly are the least afraid of dying. People who hold a loose religious faith are the most anxious, and people who are not religious are intermediate in their fear of death. A survey of people in various Christian denominations showed a positive correlation between fear of death and dogmatic adherence to religious doctrine. In other words, Christian fundamentalism and other strict interpretations of the Bible are associated with greater fear of death. Furthermore, some religious orientations were more effective than others in allaying that fear.[9]

In another study, data from a sample of white, Christian men and women were used to test the hypothesis that traditional, church-centered religiousness and de-institutionalized spiritual seeking are distinct ways of approaching fear of death in old age. Both religiousness and spirituality were related to positive psychosocial functioning, but only church-centered religiousness protected subjects against the fear of death.[10]

Fear of death is also known as death anxiety. This may be a more accurate label because, like other anxieties, the emotional state in question is long lasting and not typically linked to a specific stimulus. The analysis of fear of death, death anxiety, and concerns over mortality is an important feature of existentialism and terror management theory.

See also

References

  1. ^ Ohman, A. (2000). Fear and anxiety: Evolutionary, cognitive, and clinical perspectives. In M. Lewis & J. M. Haviland-Jones (Eds.). Handbook of emotions. (pp.573-593). New York: The Guilford Press.
  2. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition, 2000, Houghton Mifflin Company.
  3. ^ Munger, M. (2003). The history of psychology. New York: Oxford University Press, pg. 221. Originally from The expression of emotion in man and animals, pg. 290.
  4. ^ Tancer, B. (2008). Click: What millions of people are doing online and why it matters. New York: Hyperion.
  5. ^ Gallup Poll: What Frightens America's Youth, March 29, 2005 Retrieved November 24, 2008.
  6. ^ Studying Brain Activity Could Aid Diagnosis Of Social Phobia. Monash University. January 19, 2006.
  7. ^ Emotional Control Circuit Of Brain's Fear Response Discovered. Retrieved on May 14, 2008.
  8. ^ Berdoy M, Webster J, Macdonald D (2000). Fatal Attraction in Rats Infected with Toxoplasma gondii. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, B267:1591-1594. PMID 11007336
  9. ^ Kahoe, R. D., & Dunn, R. F. (1976). The fear of death and religious attitudes and behavior, Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 14, 379-382.
  10. ^ Wink, P. (2006). Who is afraid of death? Religiousness, spirituality, and death anxiety in late adulthood. Journal of Religion, Spirituality, & Aging, 18, 93-110.

Further reading

External links


 
Translations: Fear
Top

Dansk (Danish)
n. - frygt, skræk, ængstelse
v. tr. - nære ærefrygt for, skræmme
v. intr. - frygte, være bange

idioms:

  • fear for    nære ængstelse for
  • fear not    frygt ej
  • for fear    af frygt for
  • in fear of    i frygt for
  • No fear    du skal ikke være bange!
  • put the fear of God into    sætte en skræk i livet på

Nederlands (Dutch)
vrees, angst, bangheid, bezorgdheid, gevaar, vrezen, bang zijn (voor)

Français (French)
n. - angoisse, peur, crainte, danger
v. tr. - craindre, avoir peur
v. intr. - craindre pour qch/qn

idioms:

  • fear for    craindre pour
  • fear not    n'ayez crainte
  • for fear of    de crainte de
  • for fear that    de crainte que
  • in fear of    (avoir) peur de
  • No fear    pas de danger (excl), jamais de la vie (excl)
  • put the fear of God into    faire à (qn) une semonce dont il se souviendra longtemps

Deutsch (German)
v. - (sich) fürchten
n. - Angst, Furcht, Scheu, Befürchtung

idioms:

  • fear for    Sorge um
  • fear not    fürchte nicht
  • for fear of    aus Angst vor...
  • for fear that    aus Angst vor ...
  • in fear of    Angst haben um
  • No fear    keine Bange
  • put the fear of God into    jmdn. fürchterlich erschrecken

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - φοβάμαι, τρέμω
n. - φόβος, τρόμος

idioms:

  • fear for    ανησυχώ για
  • fear not    μη φοβάσαι!
  • for fear    φοβούμενος, με το φόβο
  • in fear of    από φόβο για
  • No fear    Κανένα πρόβλημα!
  • put the fear of God into    τρομοκρατώ

Italiano (Italian)
temere, apprensione, paura, timore

idioms:

  • fear for    temere per
  • fear not    non aver paura
  • for fear    per timore
  • in fear of    in timore di
  • No fear!    Mai paura!
  • put the fear of God into    fare una paura del diavolo a

Português (Portuguese)
v. - temer
n. - temor (m)

idioms:

  • fear for    temer
  • fear not    não tema
  • for fear    por medo de
  • in fear of    recear por
  • No fear!    Não há o que temer!
  • put the fear of God into    intimidar

Русский (Russian)
бояться, пугаться, опасаться, сожалеть, страх, боязнь, опасение

idioms:

  • fear for    опасаться за
  • fear not    не пугайтесь, не бойтесь
  • for fear    в тревоге
  • in fear of    боясь чего-либо
  • No fear!    Ничего не бойтесь!
  • put the fear of God into    нагнать страх

Español (Spanish)
n. - temor, miedo, ansiedad, fobia, temor reverente
v. tr. - temer, temer a, tener un temor reverente, experimentar temor
v. intr. - temer, temer a, tener miedo

idioms:

  • fear for    temer por
  • fear not    no tema
  • for fear of    por miedo de
  • for fear that    por miedo de que
  • in fear of    temer por
  • No fear    ¡ni pensarlo!, ¡ni loco!, sin miedo
  • put the fear of God into    darle un susto mortal

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - frukta, vara rädd för, befara, vara rädd
n. - fruktan, farhåga, fara

中文(简体)(Chinese (Simplified))
恐怖, 担心, 害怕, 畏惧, 恐怕, 猜想, 感到忧虑

idioms:

  • fear for    为...而担心, 为...而害怕
  • fear not    天不怕地不怕
  • for fear    由于害怕, 以免
  • in fear of    害怕...
  • No fear    别怕, 没问题
  • put the fear of God into    恫吓某人..., 恐吓某人

中文(繁體)(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 恐怖, 擔心, 害怕
v. tr. - 害怕, 畏懼, 恐怕, 擔心, 猜想
v. intr. - 害怕, 感到憂慮

idioms:

  • fear for    為...而擔心, 為...而害怕
  • fear not    天不怕地不怕
  • for fear    由於害怕, 以免
  • in fear of    害怕...
  • No fear    別怕, 沒問題
  • put the fear of God into    恫嚇某人..., 恐嚇某人

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 공포, 무서움, 근심
v. tr. - 무서워 하다, 걱정하다
v. intr. - 걱정하다

idioms:

  • fear for    ~을 하지 않도록, ~이 두려워
  • in fear of    ~을 무서워하여, ~을 걱정하여
  • put the fear of God into    ~을 겁주다

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 恐れ, 恐怖, 不安, 心配, 可能性, 畏怖, 畏れ
v. - 恐れる, 怖がる, 心配する, 畏れる, 気遣う

idioms:

  • fear for    気づかう
  • fear not    どうも怪しい
  • for fear    …しないように
  • in fear of    恐れて, 気づかって
  • put the fear of God into    縮み上がらせるほど叱る

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) يخشى , يخاف (الاسم) خشيه , خوف‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮חשש, פחד‬
v. tr. - ‮חשש, פחד, היסס, התחלחל‬
v. intr. - ‮חשש, פחד, חרד‬


 
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