Fear is inherently a positive emotion. Not in the sense that it creates a whole lot good vibes that allow's someone to be content, but in the sense that it keeps people alive. When people commonly think about fear it is always in a negative light. For example, I have a 'fear' of heights so I can't ride the roller coaster. But common phobia's even in the most severe of cases are not fear's at all, they are all forms of anxiety disorders.
With the goal of my project focused around extreme fear in the environment I needed to look into what true fear was and it's differences from common anxiety. Fear in a nutshell in the body's reaction to an immediate perceived danger. It's almost involuntary, as the body will react regardless of how safe a person's previous mindset was. In contrast with phobia's, people will agonize over the cause of their anxiety and mental stress will build up, but the biological fear response of hyperactivity will not kick in to 'save the body' from danger. The fear response is commonly known as the 'fight-or-flight' response. Where the body having perceived a clear and present danger will enter a state of hyperactivity in an attempt to preserve the system's life. However, over the years it has been noted that along with fight and flight, fright and freeze are also reactions, but these are reacting to lesser dangers. PTSD is one of the few examples of fear without a present danger it is the memory of fear causing the body to react in the same way.
When it comes down to it fear is an ancient survival mechanism that has survived into present-day. I would like to think my ultimate survival and biologically enhanced ability to make decisions under pressure would be a positive emotion to keep. The superhuman strength doesn't hurt either.
With the goal of my project focused around extreme fear in the environment I needed to look into what true fear was and it's differences from common anxiety. Fear in a nutshell in the body's reaction to an immediate perceived danger. It's almost involuntary, as the body will react regardless of how safe a person's previous mindset was. In contrast with phobia's, people will agonize over the cause of their anxiety and mental stress will build up, but the biological fear response of hyperactivity will not kick in to 'save the body' from danger. The fear response is commonly known as the 'fight-or-flight' response. Where the body having perceived a clear and present danger will enter a state of hyperactivity in an attempt to preserve the system's life. However, over the years it has been noted that along with fight and flight, fright and freeze are also reactions, but these are reacting to lesser dangers. PTSD is one of the few examples of fear without a present danger it is the memory of fear causing the body to react in the same way.When it comes down to it fear is an ancient survival mechanism that has survived into present-day. I would like to think my ultimate survival and biologically enhanced ability to make decisions under pressure would be a positive emotion to keep. The superhuman strength doesn't hurt either.
This is such a cool topic! Especially thinking about the superhuman side of it. So how will you study the effect of fear? Like, will you have a chance to interview patients,...?
ReplyDeleteI most likely will not have the chance to interview with patients in my extremely subordinate position at the hospital. So most of my interactions will be observation based.
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