Author: Allison Peng
Innate vs learned fears Babies are only born with two innate fears: fear of loud sounds and fear of falling. In experiments by researchers as early as the 20th century, children are hesitant around perceived cliffs and vertical drops. Additionally, the acoustic startle reflex in children causes a flight or fight response. These instinctual fears act to protect young children and are necessary for survival so that they display caution and are alerted to danger. Most fears are learned, either by association or observing others around them. While some of these fears are more common (fear of snakes, spiders, etc), they rely on social cues from others to develop. In other cases, experiencing an unpleasant event in childhood, such as being bitten by a dog, can cause development of a fear by association. How do brains process fear? The initial component of fear processing is subconscious, which occurs primarily in the amygdala and includes the flight or fight response (physiological responses such as increased heart rate and adrenaline release). The other aspect of fear response occurs primarily in the cortex, and reasoning can determine whether or not the initial fear is justified. Additional parts of the brain involved in the fear response include the medial prefrontal cortex, ventral tegmental area, and the lateral septum. Irrational fears and how to overcome fear Intense irrational fears are less common in adults, beyond reasoning, and often do not overlap (meaning that someone who is afraid of holes is less likely to also be afraid of enclosed spaces). Additionally, they are often not based on specific experiences, such as a previous traumatic exposure. Phobias are associated with changes in brain performance, such as increased activity in the right amygdala and insular cortex, involved in emotional processing. Associated with phobias is increased expectation of phobia-inducing objects, including hypersensitivity to similar visual stimulus and expectancy bias. People who have irrational fears are also often unable to contextualize the extremely low odds of an event happening, such as a shark attack. People with phobias often display avoidant behavior, changing lifestyles to accommodate their fears. The best way to overcome fears is through exposure therapy, where you repeatedly expose yourself to fears slowly until the cognitive response is able to override emotional responses. By encountering phobia-inducing situations, you can condition yourself to learn that nothing bad is going to happen, and build confidence. Check out this document to learn more about fear!
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