the.com/fear
the body's loyal bodyguard, occasionally a little too enthusiastic about the job
means An unpleasant emotion triggered by the perception of danger, threat, or pain, whether real or imagined.
from From Old English fǣr, which originally meant a sudden danger or ambush — the peril itself, not the feeling about it. Over time the word slid inward, from the lurking threat to the flutter it sets off in your chest. It's related to Old High German fāra (ambush, danger) and likely traces back to a Proto-Germanic root for calamity or peril.
- brain origin
- amygdala fires before you consciously notice the threat
- smell of dread
- humans can smell fear sweat from others
- useful glitch
- phobias often outlive the dangers that caused them
- frozen mode
- freezing is an ancient survival tactic, not weakness
- thrill seekers
- some people chase fear for the dopamine rush
phobophobia — diagnosed fear of fear itself, recognized in clinical psychology and patient case studies
the fear index — vix stock market volatility index, measures investor fear daily on nyse
fear appeal advertising — cigarette warning labels and drunk driving psas, proven 40% more effective than neutral messaging