University of Mostar

Faculty of Philosophy
Psychology department
Fear
Student: Gloria Petra Tomi
Professor: Maja Dolan
Mostar! Decem"er #! #$%&
1
F'()
*ntroduction+++++++++++++++++++++++++++,&
Discussion++++++++++,++++++++++++++,+++,,-
Definition of fear++++++++++++++++++,+++++,,-
Distinction of fear and fear.li/e emotions++++++++,++++,,,,,,,,0
1ause and diagnosing of fear and fear.li/e emotions++++++,,,+++,2
1onclusion++++++++++++++++++++++++,,+++%$
3iterature+++++++++++++++++++++++,++++,,,%%
2
Introduction
4ne of the "asic and also one of the most important human emotions is the one that is
induced "y a threat 5hich ma/es a person get a5ay from it and avoid the same or similar
situation in the future, This emotion protects people and ma/es sure that they stay a5ay from
o"vious danger, *t is called F'(), 'very person has felt it at least once in their life,
There are lots of types of fear and its distinction is very important for understanding! defining and
solving it,

Some fears are legitimate! "ut some are not, The emotion of fear can help a person to protect
herself! "ut it can also "e a pro"lem for them, *t can "e the reason 5hy people loc/ themselves in
houses and apartments and have no contact 5ith other people, This "ehavior can lead to a /ind of
isolation! 5hich can "e 6uite dangerous for a person7s health, The 5ay that 5e live and perceive
the 5orld around ourselves plays an important role in the process of development of different
fears, For e8ample! some people have a fear of spiders! although they /no5 that spiders are much
smaller and 5ea/er! the others fear strangers, *n "oth cases the fear is the reason 5hy those
people try to avoid any contact 5ith the o"ject of their fear,
Therefore! 5e can really say that fear can ma/e us safer in dangerous situations! in 5hich case it
protects us from a specific threat! "ut it can also put us in danger 5hen fear is developed 5ithout
a justifia"le reason, *n this case 5e develop some /ind of overprotective "ehavior.pattern and put
ourselves in situations 5here 5e are scared of everyone and everything! just li/e it 5as said at the
First *naugural (ddress in %9&&,

:The only thing 5e have to fear is fear itself . nameless! unreasoning! unjustified! terror 5hich
paraly;es needed efforts to convert retreat into advance,:
%
* "elieve that every person in the 5orld has given some thought to this statement, So! let us
reflect more deeply on the matter,
1
Franklin D. Roosevelt - First Inaugural Address, March 4, 1933, htt!""ho#ialist.co$"%ears.ht$l &'ov. 11,
2(13)
3
2. Discussion
2.1. Definition of fear
First of all! it should "e clear that the fear is a negative! ho5ever! rather a necessary
emotion,
(ccording to the Free 'ncyclopedia <i/ipedia! fear is =+an emotion induced "y a perceived
threat 5hich causes entities to 6uic/ly pull far a5ay from it and usually hide, *t is a "asic survival
mechanism occurring in response to a specific stimulus! such as pain or the threat of danger, *n
short! fear is the a"ility to recogni;e danger leading to an urge to confront it or flee from it >also
/no5n as the fight.or.flight response? "ut in e8treme cases of fear >horror and terror? a free;e or
paralysis response is possi"le, Some psychologists such as @ohn A, <atson! )o"ert Plutchi/ and
Paul '/man have suggested that there is only a small set of "asic or innate emotions and that fear
is one of them, This hypothesi;ed set includes such emotions as joy! sadness! fright! dread!
horror! panic! an8iety! acute stress reaction and anger,B
#
(ccording to Psychology today! fear is =+a vital response to physical and emotional danger C if
5e didnDt feel it! 5e couldnDt protect ourselves from legitimate threats, Aut often 5e fear
situations that are far from life.or.death! and thus hang "ac/ for no good reason, Traumas or "ad
e8periences can trigger a fear response 5ithin us that is hard to 6uell, Eet e8posing ourselves to
our personal demons is the "est 5ay to move past them,:
&
(ccording to different psychology e8perts and "oo/s! fear should "e distinguished from emotion
an8iety! 5hich typically occurs 5ithout any certain or immediate e8ternal threat,
Fear is fre6uently related to specific "ehaviors of escape and avoidance! 5hereas an8iety is the
result of threats 5hich are perceived to "e uncontrolla"le or unavoida"le,
-
*t is 5orth noting that
fear almost al5ays relates to future events! such as 5orsening of a situation! or continuation of a
situation that is unaccepta"le, Fear can also "e an instant reaction to something presently
2
*ikiedia, +he Free ,nc-cloedia, htt!""en..ikiedia.org".iki"Fear, &'ov. 11.,2(13)
3
/s-cholog- toda-, htt!""....s-cholog-toda-.co$"#asics"%ear &'ov. 23, 2(13)
4
+he Free enc-cloedia *ikiedia0 1h$an, A. &2(((). 2Fear and an3iet-! ,volutionar-, cognitive, and
clinical ersectives2. In M. 4e.is 5 6. M. 7aviland-6ones &,ds.). 7and#ook o% e$otions. . 893:893.
'e. ;ork! +he <uil%ord /ress
4
happening, (ll people have an instinctual response to potential danger! 5hich is in fact important
to the survival of all species, The reactions elicited from fear are seen through advantages in
evolution,
0
Fear can "e a manipulating and controlling factor in an individualDs life,
F

2.2. Disambiguation of fear and fear-like emotions

Fear is an emotion that is justified and understanda"le, Go5ever! that emotion can "e just
a start or a "asic emotion for some "igger and stronger! more intense negative emotions such as
an8iety or pho"ia, These t5o are not the same as fearH ho5ever! fear is 5hat they have in
common,
Types of fear
(ccording to surveys! some of the most common fears are of demons and ghosts! the
e8istence of evil po5ers! coc/roaches! spiders! sna/es! heights! 5ater! enclosed spaces! tunnels!
"ridges! needles! social rejection! failure! e8aminations and pu"lic spea/ing, *n a test of 5hat
people fear the most! Aill Tancer analy;ed the most fre6uent online search 6ueries that involved
the phrase! :fear of,,,= This follo5s the assumption that people tend to see/ information on the
issues that concern them the most, Gis top ten list of fears consisted of flying! heights! clo5ns!
intimacy! death! rejection! people! sna/es! failure! and driving,
I
'ven though most arachnids are harmless! a person 5ith arachnopho"ia may still panic or feel
uneasy around one, Sometimes! even an o"ject resem"ling a spider can trigger a panic attac/ in
an arachnopho"ic individual,
4ne of the most common fears in humans is the fear of pu"lic spea/ing, People may "e
comforta"le spea/ing inside a room "ut 5hen it comes to pu"lic spea/ing! fear cra5ls in
8
+he Free ,nc-cloedia *ikiedia0 =lsson, A.0 /hels, ,. A. &2((9). 2>ocial learning o% %ear2. 'ature
'euroscience 1( &9)! 1(98:11(2. doi!1(.1(3?"nn19@?. /MID 1992@498 &'ov 23, 2(13)
@
+he Free ,nc-cloedia *ikiedia0 Aurton, 4.D. &2(11). 2Fear2. 6ournal o% Research on Bhristian
,ducation 2( &2)! 113:11@. doi!1(.1(?("1(@8@219.2(11.892?(1 &'ov 23, 2(13)
9
+he Free ,nc-cloedia *ikiedia0 +ancer, A. &2((?). Blick! *hat $illions o% eole are doing online and
.h- it $atters. 'e. ;ork! 7-erion. &'ov. 23, 2(13)
8
disguised as suspicion over 5hether the 5ords uttered are correct or incorrect "ecause there are
many to judge them, (nother common fear can "e of pain! or of someone hurting a person, Fear
of pain in a plausi"le situation "rings flinching! or cringing,
*n a #$$0 Gallup poll >US(?! a national sample of adolescents "et5een the ages of %& and %0
5ere as/ed 5hat they feared the most, The 6uestion 5as open ended and participants 5ere a"le to
say 5hatever they 5anted, The top ten fears 5ere! in order: terrorist attac/s! spiders! death! "eing
a failure! 5ar! criminal or gang violence! "eing alone! the future! and nuclear 5ar,
2
Anxiety disorders
(ccording to the te8t"oo/ Psychology 5ritten "y Saundra J, 1iccarelli and @, Koland
<hite! every"ody does have an8iety! and some people have a great deal of an8iety at times,
<hen tal/ing a"out an8iety disorders! an8iety is either e8cessive L greater than it should "e!
given the circumstances L or unrealistic, *f final e8ams are coming up and a student has not
studied enough! his or her an8iety is understanda"le and realistic, Aut a student 5ho has studied!
has done 5ell on all the e8ams and is 6uite 5ell prepared "ut still 5orries e8cessively a"out
passing them is an indication of an unrealistic amount of an8iety, People 5ho are in danger of
losing their jo" might e8perience 6uite a "it of an8iety! yet its source is o"vious and
understanda"le, Aut a person 5hose life is going 5ell 5ith nothing "ad looming in the future!
5ho nevertheless feels e8tremely an8ious may "e e8periencing an an8iety disorder,
Free.floating an8iety is the term given to an8iety that seems to "e unrelated to any realistic!
/no5n factor! and it is often a symptom of an an8iety disorder >Freud M Gay! %9II?,
9

*n short! 5e can define an8iety disorders as disorders in 5hich the main symptom is e8cessive or
unrealistic an8iety and fearfulness,
?
+he Free ,nc-cloedia *ikiedia0 <allu /oll! *hat Frightens A$ericaCs ;outh, gallu.co$ &29 March
2((8). &'ov 23, 2(13)
9
>aundra D. Biccarell-, 6. 'olan *hite. /s-cholog-, . 841.,
htt!""de.scri#d.co$"doc"13334(3??"/s-cholog--+e3t#ook &'ov 23, 2(13)
@
Phobic disorders
4ne of the more specific an8iety disorders is a pho"ia! an irrational! persistent fear of something,
That =somethingB might "e an o"ject or a situation or may even involve social interactions, For
e8ample! many people 5ould feel fear if they suddenly came upon alive sna/e as they 5ere
5al/ing and 5ould ta/e steps to avoid the sna/e, (lthough those same people 5ould not
necessarily avoid a picture of a sna/e in a "oo/! a person 5ith a pho"ia of sna/es 5ould,
(voiding a live sna/e is rationalH avoiding a picture of a sna/e is not,
ome types of phobia!
ocial phobias >also called social an8iety disorders? involve a fear of interacting 5ith others or
"eing in a social situation and are one of the most common pho"ias people e8perience ><orld
Gealth 4rgani;ation *nternational 1onsortium in Psychiatric 'pidemiology! #$$$?,
%$
( specific pho"ia is an irrational fear of some o"ject or specific situation such as a fear of dogs!
or a fear of "eing in small! enclosed spaces >claustrophobia?, 4ther specific pho"ias include a
fear of injections >trypanophobia?! fear of dental 5or/ >odontophobia?! fear of "lood
>hematophobia?! and fear of heights >acrophobia?,
%%
( third type of pho"ia is agoraphobia! a Gree/ name that literally means =fear of the
mar/etplace,B (lthough that ma/es it sound li/e a social pho"ia! agorapho"ia is a 6uite more
complicated, *t is actually the fear of "eing in a place or situation >social or not? from 5hich
escape is difficult or impossi"le should something go 5rong >(merican Psychiatric (ssociation!
#$$$?,
People 5ith specific pho"ias can usually avoid the o"ject or situation 5ithout too much
difficulty and people 5ith social pho"ias may simply avoid jo"s and situations that involve
meeting people face to face, Aut people 5ith agorapho"ia cannot avoid their pho"iaNs source
"ecause it is simply "eing outside in the real 5orld, (s ever! case of agorapho"ia can ma/e a
1(
>aundra D. Biccarell-, 6. 'olan *hite. /s-cholog-. /. 842.
htt!""de.scri#d.co$"doc"13334(3??"/s-cholog--+e3t#ook &'ov 23, 2(13)
11
4ook at the %ootnote 'o. 1(.
9
personNs home a prison! leaving the person trapped inside! una"le to go to 5or/! shop! or engage
in any /ind of activity that re6uires leaving their home,
12
Panic disorder
Many people 5ho have a panic attac/ thin/ that they are having a heart attac/ and can e8perience
pain as 5ell as panic! "ut the symptoms are caused "y the panic! not "y any actual physical
disorder, Psychologically! the person having a panic attac/ is in a state of terror! thin/ing that this
is it! death is happening and many people may feel a need to escape, The attac/ happens 5ithout
5arning and 6uite suddenly, (lthough some panic attac/s can last as long as half an hour! some
last only a fe5 minutes! 5ith most attac/s pea/ing 5ithin %$ to %0 minutes, Gaving a panic attac/
is not that unusual! especially for adolescent girls and young adult 5omen >'aton et al,! %99-H
Gay5ard et al,! %929! #$$$?, )esearchers have also found evidence that cigarette smo/ing greatly
increases the ris/ of panic attac/s in adolescents and young adults >@ohnson! #$$$H Ovolens/y et
al,! #$$&?, )egardless of the age of onset! it is only 5hen panic attac/s "ecome so fre6uent that
they affect a personNs a"ility to function in day.to.day life that they "ecome a panic disorder,
2.". #ause of fear and fear-like emotions and its diagnosing
Different perspectives on ho5 personality develops offer various e8planations for an8iety
disorders, For e8ample! the psycho.dynamic model sees an8iety as a /ind of danger signal that
repressed urges or conflicts are threatening to surface >Freud M Gay! %9II?, ( pho"ia is seen as a
/ind of displacement! in 5hich the pho"ic o"ject is actually only a sym"ol of 5hatever the person
has "uried deep in his or her unconscious mind L the true source of the fear, ( fear of /nives
might mean a fear of oneNs o5n aggressive tendencies! or a fear of heights may hide a suicidal
desire to jump,
Aehaviorists "elieve that an8ious "ehavioral reactions are learned, They see pho"ias! for
e8ample! as nothing more than classically conditioned fear responses! as 5as the case 5ith =3ittle
(l"ertB >)achman! %99$H <atson M )ayner! %9#$? to 1hapter Five: 3earning! p, %II, 1ognitive
psychologists! on the other hand! see an8iety disorders as the result of illogical! irrational thought
12
>aundra D. Biccarell-, 6. 'olan *hite. /s-cholog-. /. 842.
htt!""de.scri#d.co$"doc"13334(3??"/s-cholog--+e3t#ook &'ov 23, 2(13)
?
processes, 4ne 5ay in 5hich people 5ith an8iety disorders sho5 irrational thin/ing >Aec/! %9IF!
%92-? is through magnification! or the tendency to =ma/e mountains out of molehillsB "y
interpreting situations as "eing far more harmful! dangerous! or em"arrassing than they actually
are, *n panic disorder! for e8ample! a person might interpret a racing heart"eat as a sign of a heart
attac/ instead of just a momentary arousal,
%&
Kone of these theories is 5rong, The only thing that ma/es difference is the perspective of
researches,
The most important starting point in the process of diagnosing fear is the fact and conclusion that
fear is not the same as an8iety disorder! panic attac/s or pho"ias,
There are many physiological changes in the "ody associated 5ith fear that can "e
summari;ed as the :fight or flight: response, (n innate response for coping 5ith danger! it 5or/s
"y accelerating the heart rate! dilating the "lood vessels and increasing muscle tension and
"reathing rate, (s the name suggests! this primitive mechanism helps an organism survive "y
either running a5ay or fighting off the danger, (fter the series of physiological changes! only
then does the consciousness reali;e an emotion of fear,
%-
13
>aundra D. Biccarell-, 6. 'olan *hite. /s-cholog-. /. 848.
htt!""de.scri#d.co$"doc"13334(3??"/s-cholog--+e3t#ook &'ov 23, 2(13)
14
+he Free ,nc-cloedia *ikiedia, htt!""en..ikiedia.org".iki"Fear &'ov. 23, 2(13)
9
#onclusion
The emotion of fear is one of the most "asic and most important emotions, *t is an
instinctive reaction that protects a person from realistic and o"vious danger, Sometimes fear can
help us to survive, *n other cases! fear can "e responsi"le for shutting do5n the outdoor 5orld
and living in the limited area of already /no5n environment,
Fear is very important for protection and defense! "ut it is also a "asic emotion in the
process of development of different disorders such as pho"ias! an8iety or panic disorders,
<ith an emotion of fear people can live and it might even prove to "e 6uite helpfulH still living
5ith some of these disorders is much more difficult! complicated and limited than living 5ithout
it,
$A good scare is %orth more to a man than good ad&ice.$
---- 'dgar (atson )o%e - #ountry To%n ayings *1+11,
1-
18
Fear Euotes .e#site, htt!""ho#ialist.co$"%ears.ht$l &'ov. 23, 2(13)
1(
3ist of literature:
The Free 'ncyclopedia <i/ipedia! http:PPen,5 i/ipedia,orgP5i/iPFear >Kov, #&
#$%&?
Psychology Today! http:PP555,psychologytoday,comP"logPthe.
dance. c onnectionP#$$9%$Pfear.vs.an8iety >Kov, #&! #$%&?
Saundra J, 1iccarelly! @, Kolan <hite, Psychology Te8t"oo/, P, 0-#,
http:PPde,scri"d,comPdocP%&&&-$&22PPsychology.Te8t"oo/
http:PPde,scri"d,comPdocP%&&&-$&22PPsychology .Te8t"oo/ >Kov #&! #$%&?
Fear Quotes! http:PPpho"ialist,comPfears,html >Kov #&! #$%&?
11