• Question: Why do we have fears?

    Asked by bealeewh to Helen, Jenni, Mark, Martin, Stu on 21 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Helen O'Connor

      Helen O'Connor answered on 21 Jun 2011:

      Some of our fears are natural instincts, and have helped us to evolve: certain things might actually harm us (or might have harmed us thousands of years ago) and we have developed fears as a way of protecting us from these things. So, if you fell from a great height, you would be unlikely to survive, so having a HEALTHY fear of heights (e.g. keeping away from the edge of a cliff when it looks like its quite crumbly or there is a lot of wind) is pretty sensible.

      But having an irrational fear that stops us even doing normal things (often called a phobia) can really stop us enjoying our life to the full. So being afraid of going up a step ladder to change a lightbulb might be irrational as you are unlikely to fall, and if you did, would be unlikely to hurt yourself much.

      I work with athletes who are afraid of failing – their biggest fear is not doing their best – but if this stopped them from even TRYING to do their best, their life would not be very fulfilled and they would be more disappointed.

    • Photo: Jenni Tilley

      Jenni Tilley answered on 21 Jun 2011:

      I’m gonna go out on a limb and assume this is some evolutionary advantage that helps us survive. For example, being afraid of death makes us avoid dangerous situations and stay alive!

      Why we have irrational fears is something else entirey I’m guessing. But I don’t really know…

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