The Writer's Comfort Levels ~ PART 13 ~ "Fear"

The Writer's Comfort Levels

PART 13

"Fear"

BLOG SESSION

February 9th, 2018

We're all here for another fabulous Blog Session relative to the 13th emotion on our list of 21 emotions ~  we'll be covering the emotion of of "Fear" today in our series about The Writer's Comfort Levels.

When it comes to dealing with fear, we first need to go over the description of what fear is . . .

FEAR is a feeling induced by perceived danger or threat that occurs in certain types of organisms, which causes a change in metabolic and organ functions and ultimately a change in behavior, such as fleeing, hiding, or freezing from perceived traumatic events.  Fear in human beings may occur in response to a specific stimulus occurring in the present, or in anticipation or expectation of a future threat perceived as a risk to body or life.  The fear response arises from the perception of danger leading to confrontation with or escape from/avoiding the threat (also known as the fight-or-flight response), which in extreme cases of fear (horror and terror) can be a freeze response or paralysis.

In humans and animals, fear is modulated by the process of cognition and learning.  Thus fear is judged as rational (appropriate) or irrational (inappropriate).  An irrational fear is called a phobia.

Irrational Fear (Phobia)

Some fears are very much rational

(As in escaping from a killer)

Psychologists such as John B. Watson, Robert Plutchik, and Paul Ekman have suggested that there is only a small set of basic or innate emotions and that fear is one of them.  This hypothesized set includes such emotions as acute stress reaction, anger, angst, anxiety, fright, horror, joy, panic, and sadness.

Fear is closely related to, but should definitely be distinguished from, the emotion of anxiety, which occurs as the result of threats that are perceived to be uncontrollable or unavoidable.  The fear response serves survival by generating appropriate behavioral responses, therefore it has been preserved throughout evolution.

Fear can be learned by experiencing or watching 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).  There are studies looking at areas of the brain that are affected in relation to fear.  When looking at these areas (such as the amygdala), it was proposed that a person learns to fear regardless of whether they themselves have experienced trauma, or if they have observed the fear in others.

In a study completed by Andreas Olsson, Katherine I. Nearing and Elizabeth A. Phelps the amygdala were affected both when subjects observed someone else being submitted to an aversive event, knowing that the same treatment awaited themselves, and when subjects were subsequently placed in a fear-provoking situation.  This suggests that fear can develop in both conditions, not just simply from personal history.

Fear of the unknown . . .

Fear of the unknown or irrational fear is caused by negative thinking (worry), which arises from anxiety accompanied with a subjective sense of apprehension or dread.

Irrational fear shares a common neural pathway with other fears ~ a pathway that engages the nervous system to mobilize bodily resources in the face of danger or threat. Many people are scared of the "unknown".  The irrational fear can branch out to many areas such as the hereafter, the next ten years or even tomorrow.  Chronic irrational fear has deleterious effects since the elicitor stimulus is commonly absent or perceived from delusions.  In these cases specialists use False Evidence Appearing Real as a definition.  Such fear can create comorbidity with the anxiety disorder umbrella.

About comorbidity ~ In medicine, comorbidity is the presence of one or more additional diseases or disorders co-occurring with (that is, concomitant or concurrent with) a primary disease or disorder; in the countable sense of the term, a comorbidity (plural comorbidities) is each additional disorder or disease.  The additional disorder may be a behavioral or mental disorder.

Being scared may cause people to experience anticipatory fear of what may lie ahead rather than planning and evaluating for the same.  For example, "continuation of scholarly education" is perceived by many educators as a risk that may cause them fear and stress, and they would rather teach things they've been taught than go and do research. This perception by educators can lead to habits such as laziness and procrastination.  The ambiguity of situations that tend to be uncertain and unpredictable can cause anxiety in addition to other psychological and physical problems in some populations; especially those who engage it constantly, for example, in war-ridden places or in places of conflict, terrorism, abuse, etc.

Fearful Baby

PLEASE NOTE:  Poor parenting that instills fear can also debilitate a child's psyche development or personality.  Scaring children verbally, physically, mentally, or emotionally is abusive.  Allowing your child to be bullied is an example of poor parenting -- (bullying by other family members or school classmates).

Another example of poor parenting skills:  Parents tell their children not to talk to strangers in order to protect them.  In school they would be motivated to not show fear in talking with strangers, but to be assertive and also aware of the risks and the environment in which it takes place -- Be aware that ambiguous and mixed messages like this can affect their self-esteem and self-confidence.  Researchers say talking to strangers isn't something to be thwarted but allowed in a parent's presence if required.  Developing a sense of equanimity to handle various situations is often advocated as an antidote to irrational fear and as an essential skill by a number of ancient philosophies.

If you are writing a self-help book, or planning to write a self-help book, dealing with the topic of "irrational fear" may possibly be a good area for you to explore.

"Irrational Fear"

There are various fears and phobias that we will not cover completely today, but you are encouraged to do further research on the emotion of "fear" and to look into the various phobias associated with fear for the purposes of your future writings.

Until our next Blog Session, enjoy your week dear Writers ~

The Writer's Comfort Levels

PART 14

"Hate"

Peace, Love & Light

By René Allen

©Copyright - René Allen - 2014-2018 - All Rights Reserved