Fear and the Body
True or False: Fear is only irrational?
False: Fear can be rational (based on real danger) or irrational (a perceived threat).
What coping skill and defense mechanism can lower fear responses by calming the nervous system?
Laughter and breathing can instantly lower fear responses by calming the nervous system.
Define phobia or where the word came from?
an extreme or irrational fear of or aversion to something. The word phobia comes from the Greek word “phobos,” meaning fear or panic.
There’s a phobia of long words—ironically called hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia.
its length is indeed an ironic and humorous feature of the term itself. This phobia is not an officially recognized clinical diagnosis but is considered a type of social phobia, which is a broader fear or anxiety related to social situations
True or False: Fear is learned only through experience?
False: Some fear is learned through experience, while others are inherited or instinctive.
When you are scared, where does your body redirect your blood from and where does it go?
When scared, your body redirects blood from your skin to your muscles, preparing to flee or fight.
What do you feel after you face your fears?
a mixture of relief and accomplishment, which can grow into lasting feelings of confidence, pride, strength, empowerment, and resilience
True: women tend to have more animal or situational phobias, while men more often fear social judgment or failure.
Thanatophobia – fear of death or dying.
Somniphobia – fear of falling asleep.
Ophidiophobia – fear of snakes.
Claustrophobia – fear of tight or closed spaces.
Mysophobia – fear of germs or contamination.
Nomophobia – fear of being without your cell phone or losing signal.
Coulrophobia – fear of clowns (common after scary movies).
Trypophobia – fear or disgust of holes or small patterns.
Ablutophobia – fear of bathing or washing.
Glossophobia – fear of public speaking (one of the most common in adults).
Name 3 benefits to fear.
Safe from danger, boosts your immune system, releases oxytocin which can strengthen social bonds, empowerment, personal growth, euphoric rush, Stress management,
What response does fear activate in the body?
Fight-Flight-Freeze-Fawn in order to protect you from danger.
What are nightmares purpose?
Nightmares can be your brain’s way of processing unresolved fear or stress.
How many phobias are recognized?
over 500 though many are considered rare. Phobias are categorized into three main types by the American Psychiatric Association: specific phobias, social phobia (social anxiety disorder), and agoraphobia.
Is fear contagious?
Studies in animals confirmed that the message about another's fear travels from the ACC to the amygdala, where the defense responses are set off.
ACC stands for Anterior Cingulate Cortex, a region of the brain located near the front of the central sulcus.
What is one of the most effective way to overcome fear?
What part of the brain controls fear?
The amygdala, located in the limbic system of the brain, is primarily responsible for processing and regulating fear.
What part of the brain stores fear memories?
The hippocampus, the brain’s memory center, works with the amygdala to store fear memories.
what is the most socially identified fear?
The most socially identified and common social fear is the fear of public speaking (glossophobia). Surveys and studies consistently rank public speaking as the most prevalent specific social phobia, with estimates suggesting it might affect up to 75% of the world's population to some degree.
True or False: Goosebumps are a leftover reaction from our ancestors — they made body hair stand up to look bigger to predators.
True: goosebumps are a vestigial reflex from our ancestors that originally served two purposes: to trap a layer of insulating air when cold and to make our ancestors appear larger to predators. While the reflex remains in humans, its practical utility has diminished because we have much less body hair than our ancestors did.
Complete the sentence: The more you _____ what you fear, the __________ that fear can become.
The more you AVOID what you fear, the STRONGER that fear can become.The statement is accurate because avoiding what you fear provides temporary relief but reinforces the fear in the long term. Each time you avoid a fear, you send a message to your brain that the situation is dangerous and unmanageable, which can make similar situations seem even more intimidating in the future. This creates a vicious cycle where avoidance leads to greater anxiety over time, while facing fears through gradual exposure can diminish them.
What hormone does fear release in the body?
Fear triggers the release of adrenaline (epinephrine) and noradrenaline (norepinephrine), which are the main "fight or flight" hormones, and the stress hormone cortisol.
What is the fear of fear called?
phobophobia.
What percent of people will experience a phobia at some point in their life?
Approximately 7% to 13%,
Define anticipatory fear?
anticipatory fear” — being afraid before something happens.
Along with fear, what are the 7 universal emotions?
happiness, sadness, fear, disgust, surprise, anger, and contempt
These emotions are considered basic and innate, with their expressions remaining relatively consistent across different ages, genders, and nationalities.