Is fear an innate state of being for humans? Are we genetically predisposed to worry? Anxiety? It seems to me that more and more people are worrying about small stuff. Is that we are inclined to worry/ feel anxious/be afraid of something and a lot of the big things aren't an issue anymore?
Announcement
Collapse
No announcement yet.
Fear
Collapse
This topic is closed.
X
X
-
Fear
We are what we are. Nothing more, nothing less. There is good and evil among every kind of people. It's the evil among us who rule now. -Anne Bishop, Daughter of the Blood
I wondered if he could ever understand that it was a blessing, not a sin, to be graced with more than one love.
It could be complicated; of course it could be complicated. And it opened one up to the possibility of more pain and loss.
Still, it was a blessing I would never relinquish. Love, genuine love, was always a cause for joy.
-Jacqueline Carey, Naamah's Curse
Service to your fellows is the root of peace.Tags: None
-
One with the Force
- Nov 2005
- 5164
- Polytheist with Pan-/Panen- tendencies.
- male
- Elk River, MN
- In the darkest recesses of your twisted mind, a G-rated version of me resides.
Re: Fear
Honestly, I don't think it's innate at all. From all that I've observed, I think it's a learned behavior, and one that can relatively easily be contagious.
That's not to be confused with the reptilian level of fight or flight behavior, however. Just the abstract fear that modern humans nourish.
*shrug
"Reason is not automatic. Those who deny it cannot be conquered by it." - Ayn Rand
"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth." - Marcus Aurelius
"The very ink with which history is written is merely fluid prejudice." - Mark Twain
"The only gossip I'm interested in is things from the Weekly World News - 'Woman's bra bursts, 11 injured'. That kind of thing." - Johnny Depp
-
Cat Freak
- Jul 2013
- 3337
- Kemetic reconstructionist, I guess... Solitary. devotee of Djehuty and Bast
- male
- In my reality
- Rawr
Re: Fear
As Chain said - it is a great part of human behaviour. The feeling of fear is determined in us since the beginning, but it can work in different situations or not work at all. It often depends on the person."Fair means that everybody gets what they need. And the only way to get that is to make it happen yourself."
Since I adore cats, I might write something strange or unusual in my comment.Cats are awesome!!! ^_^
Comment
-
Re: Fear
Hmm. I guess what I'm getting at is.. if you are in a completely secure environment, everything's as good as it could possibly get, would you still find something to be anxious over? I think a lot of people would. Even if that was some crazy, this is too good to be true, reaction.We are what we are. Nothing more, nothing less. There is good and evil among every kind of people. It's the evil among us who rule now. -Anne Bishop, Daughter of the Blood
I wondered if he could ever understand that it was a blessing, not a sin, to be graced with more than one love.
It could be complicated; of course it could be complicated. And it opened one up to the possibility of more pain and loss.
Still, it was a blessing I would never relinquish. Love, genuine love, was always a cause for joy.
-Jacqueline Carey, Naamah's Curse
Service to your fellows is the root of peace.
Comment
-
sea witch
- Oct 2005
- 11651
- relational theophysis and bioregional witchery
- coastal Georgia
- *a little bad taste is like a nice dash of paprika*
Re: Fear
I think its an evolutionary trait, the capacity for fear. I think the *what* to fear is learned, but there are some things that instinctive, because its an evolutionary adaptation (dark places, deep water, heights). Fear is a tool for survival, its a response and motivator for stress (which can be a good thing). In the absence of stress, I think we would still have fear, because we'd fear the return of stress...we are capable of complex enough thoughts to know that stress will return (and look at prey animals, they know to stay alert for predators, even in their absence).Wonderful Life: The Burgess Shale and the Nature of HistoryPagan Devotionals, because the wind and the rain is our Bible
sigpic
Comment
-
Mostly Harmless
- Oct 2012
- 908
- pragmatic monism
- DC area, US
- "Everything not forbidden is compulsory" - TH White
Re: Fear
What a coincidence -- just a couple of days ago I briefly pondered what a life without fear would look like. Didn't take long for me to answer: "Short."
"No, no, you're not thinking; you're just being logical." -- Niels Bohr
Comment
-
Re: Fear
Originally posted by Shahaku View PostHmm. I guess what I'm getting at is.. if you are in a completely secure environment, everything's as good as it could possibly get, would you still find something to be anxious over? I think a lot of people would. Even if that was some crazy, this is too good to be true, reaction.The forum member formerly known as perzephone. Or Perze. I've shed a skin.
Comment
-
Re: Fear
In my opinion. Fear itself as a concept is innate, anxiety is more or less learned (unless you're naturally born with some chemical predisposition).
Although, for the record, I do see anxiety here (the USA) a lot more than I ever saw it in the UK and Slovenia. There's been the speculation that perhaps the US is a fear-based country where the news media hypes up any gruesome story to boost their ratings, that the government keeps their citizens on edge, and that in turn leads to more people owning and carrying firearms, looking sideways at their neighbors and the people they walk by on the street, and generally maintaining a mind of paranoia against any and all who are around them.
I'm not convinced that's the only reason for the amount of anxiety people have today (for example, I'm pretty sure the job situation-- or lack thereof-- has some pull there), but maybe there's points to be had in combination with other factors.
Some people do become more anxious than others, for whatever reasons, and that's just how the world is. We're all a little different, have different limits, different factors of resilience, and different situations.
Comment
-
One with the Force
- Nov 2005
- 5164
- Polytheist with Pan-/Panen- tendencies.
- male
- Elk River, MN
- In the darkest recesses of your twisted mind, a G-rated version of me resides.
Re: Fear
Hmm. "Worry buckets". Does that sound accurate?
"Reason is not automatic. Those who deny it cannot be conquered by it." - Ayn Rand
"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth." - Marcus Aurelius
"The very ink with which history is written is merely fluid prejudice." - Mark Twain
"The only gossip I'm interested in is things from the Weekly World News - 'Woman's bra bursts, 11 injured'. That kind of thing." - Johnny Depp
Comment
-
Cat Freak
- Jul 2013
- 3337
- Kemetic reconstructionist, I guess... Solitary. devotee of Djehuty and Bast
- male
- In my reality
- Rawr
Re: Fear
Fear is something that is built in everyone of us. We are all humans, all have a right to fear something. What we fear - greatly depends on the circumstances, or sometimes is cause from events that happened with us.
Sometimes it can be overcome, sometimes not. But as a human, one can put this fear aside, if there is someone or something he needs to protect or help."Fair means that everybody gets what they need. And the only way to get that is to make it happen yourself."
Since I adore cats, I might write something strange or unusual in my comment.Cats are awesome!!! ^_^
Comment
-
midgnostic
Re: Fear
I think fear is a symptom of danger but it's customary to suppress symptoms so often the messenger is shot and nothing is learned. If the danger is ignored for long enough hope may still prevail but only in a precarious state of euphoria or mania, one which assists short-term interests by averting recognition of long-term prospects
Comment
-
midgnostic
Re: Fear
... but those who ignore their fears can be redeemed as messengers as their lives become cautionary tales
Comment
-
Supporter
- Apr 2013
- 955
- Theistic Satanism & Demonolatry
- male
- Adelaide, South Australia
- Astra inclinant, sed non obligant
Re: Fear
Originally posted by Shahaku View PostHmm. I guess what I'm getting at is.. if you are in a completely secure environment, everything's as good as it could possibly get, would you still find something to be anxious over? I think a lot of people would. Even if that was some crazy, this is too good to be true, reaction.
I find things to worry about to the extent that my every ability to function is compromised at times. I catastrophise about all manner of things - someone I care about has a headache and to me it must be a brain tumor; my boss gives me negative feedback and I make the assumption that I'm either just too stupid to live or I'm going to fired.
Comment
Comment