why do we fear?[+fears traps]

As you may already know, the “Man e Haghighi Educational Group” stands out as a pioneering institution dedicated to unraveling the mysteries of fear. Through workshops, seminars, and educational packages titled “Fear,” they delve deep into the enigma of this primal emotion. In this article, we’ll journey through the labyrinth of fear, exploring its origins, examining why we fear, and uncovering the roots of our deepest anxieties.

• How do fears spread?

• How much of our fears are born from our imagination versus real threats?
• How have society and the media amplified our fears?

How Do We Become Trapped by Fear in Our Lives?

In the tapestry of life, fear threads its way through our concerns about losing what we hold dear: freedom, dignity, health, social status, and ultimately, our lives. We worry not only for ourselves but also for those we love. When these precious aspects are threatened, fear naturally arises.

Our instinct is to shield ourselves from such threats. As Montaigne wisely noted, life brims with fear: our vulnerability means there are more dangers to avoid than gains to be achieved. Fear seems to be a fundamental human condition, not a random occurrence. In the Bible, the first emotion mentioned is fear: when Adam eats the fruit of the tree of knowledge and realizes his nakedness, fear precedes even shame.

We enter the world naked and unarmed, and unlike other animals, we remain defenseless throughout our lives. But viewing human life solely through the lens of fear isn’t the most accurate perspective. It can be argued that an overwhelming awareness of danger poses a greater threat than the dangers themselves.

I’m not suggesting we live in a danger-free world; global warming, for instance, poses significant threats to our planet. In many large cities, people must avoid certain areas at specific times due to the risk of attack. Moreover, caution is necessary when crossing streets.

How Does Fear Arise?

Various phenomena must be monitored and feared, yet we seem to perceive everything through a lens of fear (the catastrophe of fear). A glance at the archives of a British newspaper reveals a startling increase in the phrase “at risk,” from 2,037 instances in 1994 to 18,003 in 2000. In Norwegian newspapers, the word “fear” rose from 3,331 instances in 1996 to 5,883 in 2006.

One might attribute this rise to the September 11 terrorist attacks, but intriguingly, the increase started well before those events. Terrorist attacks heightened our awareness of fear but also fit into a pre-existing pattern that continues today. These statistics show the media’s relentless reminders of how “dangerous” our world is and how much we should fear it.

Further studies echo this sentiment. In 2005, the Norstat Institute conducted a survey for Siemens, a safety equipment company, asking 1,000 people if they had become more fearful of various phenomena in recent years:

• 51% were more fearful of violent crimes,
• 47% of road accidents,
• 36% of terrorist acts,
• 26% of fires,
• 19% of natural disasters, with women showing a more pronounced increase than men.

We believe that our environment is increasingly polluted, crime rates are climbing, and our food is tainted with harmful additives. We perceive ourselves as being exposed to escalating dangers, growing more severe each day. A survey asked people about their opinions on a wide range of potentially dangerous activities or things, from cosmetics to terrorist attacks and vaccines. Only 25 items were seen as less dangerous than before, while 62 were deemed much more dangerous, and 13 were perceived as significantly more hazardous.

Many analysts argue that most phenomena highlighted in the survey have, in fact, become less dangerous. However, the survey results reflect a dominant perception: we believe we are more at risk today than ever before, and the future seems even grimmer. Fear, it appears, is contagious. When one person fears something, it spreads to others, even without a rational basis. Just because many fear something doesn’t mean it’s truly dangerous.

Awareness of danger has become almost fashionable. “Chic Paranoia” is a trend, with bulletproof vests emerging as popular fashion items. In 2005-2006, the “Museum of Modern Art” in New York hosted an exhibition titled “Safe: Design Takes on Risk,” showcasing items designed to protect us as examples of cutting-edge design.

The exhibition catalog stated: “Today, the simple need to protect the body has transformed into what we call fashion.” The exhibition director emphasized: “Fear is a source of creativity, especially in everyday life. Technical and industrial security are constantly expanding because as long as mistakes and errors are endless, the creative and commercial possibilities that design can offer are also endless.” The exhibition’s ethical slogan was: “Good design, combined with good instincts, is the strongest guarantee of progress toward a safer and more livable world.” Fear has even influenced architecture, where one of the key functions of buildings is to protect occupants from all external threats.

The Role of Society and Media in Increasing Fear

It seems we’ve become obsessively preoccupied with every conceivable danger. We don’t just fear dangers; they have become a source of entertainment. The media’s role in spreading fear cannot be overlooked.

Consider the British TV series, “So You Think You’re Safe?” This show highlights hidden dangers in everyday life, emphasizing the myriad accidents that can occur in a modern person’s routine. It’s perfect for post-modern paranoiacs. For those with a hint of self-reproach, there’s the book “I’m Scared, You’re Scared: 448 Things to Fear” (2000), a small encyclopedia of daily life dangers.

In recent years, books focusing on imminent global disasters have become popular, along with self-help books advising what to do when these disasters occur. These publications can leave one feeling as though the end of the world is near.

We have explored why and how we fear. Humans experience a spectrum of fears, from imaginary to real, such as fear of failure, poor health, poverty, and loss. These fears bring anxiety, stress, pressure, attacks, depression, and various physical and mental illnesses.

The presence of fear in humans is neither strange nor accidental. According to ancient texts, fear is a fundamental human condition and the first emotion mentioned in the Bible. Its existence is necessary. However, what disrupts the balance of life in terms of fear are the elements that spread and amplify it, turning fear into a catastrophe.

To combat our fears and concerns, we need awareness and understanding of the nature of fear, the philosophy behind it, and the strategies of its spread and proliferation. This article has aimed to shed light on these aspects, helping us to navigate the intricate landscape of our fears.