The Thoughts of We

We’ve all wondered about why we experience fear. The answer to that question depends on your own biological makeup and the environment you’re in. Fear, or aversion to a certain situation, is a normal response to many situations. This complex chain of events is triggered by the sympathetic nervous system, which releases hormones to trigger physical reactions. Moreover, your individual response to fear can be highly personalized. Interestingly, some people love riding roller coasters while others avoid them. Regardless of your reaction, fear may be a universal biochemical response.

Some of us have phobias that we have developed without realizing it. The fear of polio, for example, was widespread in the early twentieth century. Unlike today, polio can cause paralysis, but it’s still a legitimate concern. Other factors can also contribute to the development of a phobia. For example, a fear of spiders in childhood may be the result of witnessing a parent with a spider phobia.

While fear may seem like an extreme emotion, it’s a normal response to danger. Our bodies are designed to respond to threats by inducing fear, and we’ve developed it throughout human evolution. Ancient humans, for example, regularly faced life-threatening situations, and even modern humans develop extreme fight-or-flight reactions to specific objects. Fear has even been linked to disgust. So, what is the real reason why we experience fear?