What is it about the unknown that we fear?

[diplomatic_lies]

As guys, we're not supposed to be afraid of anything. At least, anything physical. I've faced near-death a few times, and have never allowed my fear to take control.

But throw in the "unknown". Things that you can't explain, which give you the 'creeps'. Logically, you shouldn't be afraid. I mean, a ghostly woman's voice in a dark forest can't harm you, right? A child's dismembered head staring at you from an abandoned house can't hurt, right?

So what is it about the "unknown" we fear? Is there something in our minds which trigger this fear of something we can't even understand?


One simple example is when I go into the forest at night. Being a city slicker, the forest always spooks me. Even if I'm with friends, when night falls I get nervous. Yet logically, there's nothing to be afraid of.

Weird, eh?

 

[al77]

Originally posted by diplomatic_lies
As guys, we're not supposed to be afraid of anything. At least, anything physical.

So what is it about the "unknown" we fear? Is there something in our minds which trigger this fear of something we can't even understand?
...Yet logically, there's nothing to be afraid of.

Fear is not logical. It is designed to protect us on subconscius level: we fear uncertainty and uknown because we are better off assuming it is something dangerous.
If you go into the forest, you don't know if there is just a deer or an aggressive bear, so out instinct decides it is much better to trigger fear, so you can do something, i.e. get out of the forest and be safe.

 

[undesputable]

well you can do something else.... know everything that surrounds you. but thats unlikly

we fear the unknown, bc it is random....it might be something that can kill you or something that can make you laugh. as a human youre curious and want to know what that unknown is, but it might be dangerous, or unpleasant etc.... so fear is a natual instinct

most people fear death....ive came to stop fearing death, bc when youre time is up is up and theres nothing you can do about it, also whatever is on the other side, cant be that much more worst....other people just fear the process of dying...but i say that its something that its going to happen only once in your life so you might as well experience what dying is like

btw how have you come to near death experiences?

 

[Phoenix_of_the_ashes]

As guys, we're not supposed to be afraid of anything.

If I put you naked in a land with no civilisation but full of wild animals then I promise you, that your fear will keep you alive longer than acting all tough. You know how little mammels tend to be fearful and run from everything that moves? We evolved from animals just like that and in the wild we are physically the weakest animal pound for pound.

You should have more respect of something that is so old and so refined as your primal instincts. Fear is the universe screaming into your ear.

And why is the unknown scary? It could be bad.

 

[Jariel]

Most of my friends think this way, but I'm quite the opposite. I love the dark and eerie settings and will walk through a forest or even a graveyard alone at night and feel completely relaxed. However, I get very nervous walking through the city at night or driving through notorious neighbourhoods.

To be honest I would love to see proof of ghosts, even if it meant confronting one face to face, as at least it would prove there is an afterlife.

 

[diplomatic_lies]

Re: Re: What is it about the unknown that we fear?

Originally posted by al77
If you go into the forest, you don't know if there is just a deer or an aggressive bear, so out instinct decides it is much better to trigger fear

But what if it's just an old, abandoned mansion in the middle of the night? The chances of being hurt is very low, but the fear can be high.

btw how have you come to near death experiences?

Things like almost falling off a cliff when I was a kid, an armed robbery, etc. In all those cases my mind was focused on surviving, and I could say I was more scared of the forest or abandoned house at night than a guy with a gun.

If I put you naked in a land with no civilisation but full of wild animals then I promise you, that your fear will keep you alive longer than acting all tough.

I have been lost in the forest before, and I was actually more scared of "the spooks" than wild animals.


The fear I'm referring to is the fear of the unknown. Like walking into an abandoned mansion in a safe suburb - the chances of some psycho axe murderer killing you is pretty low, but the fear still exists.

 

[ThreeStorms]

Re: Re: Re: What is it about the unknown that we fear?

Originally posted by diplomatic_lies
But what if it's just an old, abandoned mansion in the middle of the night? The chances of being hurt is very low, but the fear can be high..

Its the movies you watched while growing up. Simple as that.

 

[al77]

Re: Re: Re: What is it about the unknown that we fear?

Originally posted by diplomatic_lies
But what if it's just an old, abandoned mansion in the middle of the night? The chances of being hurt is very low, but the fear can be high.

The chances are low? you are thinkign _logically_ now.... Fear is an instinct, and it doesn't think logically.
It cocludes quickly: nitgh->dark-> unknown
Abandoned Mansion-> no one is supposed to be there-> not safe, no one could help you if anything happen.
fear doesn't have our logic, it has a primitive logic of survival.