We must never lose sight of the fact that fear is a healthy emotion, because it is part of our survival instinct. Some common fears are perfectly reasonable. In fact, eliminating them would not be a good idea, because eliminating them could also lose our sense of risk and expose ourselves unnecessarily to danger.
Fears common to all human beings are related to the physical and psychological preservation of integrity and life, they have a universal character because they protect us, they have a strong biological and phylogenetic root.
- Sometimes we do not come to the conclusion that fear is also an impressive force.
- Which can be used to our advantage when it becomes conscious.
- Out of fear.
- Crazy acts are committed.
- But to channel fear.
- The greatest human creations are made.
- Perhaps religion.
- Philosophy.
- And science itself is an answer to these common fears; a way to talk about them.
- What are human beings in general afraid of? See the main threats below.
“Fear of fear is likely to cause more problems in our lives than fear itself. “Karl Albrecht-
It’s fear that underlies the survival instinct. From a biological point of view, life tends to be perpetuated. All organisms hesitate to die. From a philosophical point of view, life is the supreme good, for all other goods and virtues come from it.
Fear of death generates many fears of resistance to death, we fear at the height because the possibility of falling would kill us, so we are afraid of airplanes, extreme speeds, etc. , are common fears of all human beings and cultures. What varies is how they are assumed and treated.
It refers to the fear of losing freedom, to the ability to decide our actions or thoughts, it is linked, from a symbolic point of view, to the fear of dying, which implies the rejection of the idea of being lost.
Many fears arise from this fundamental fear. For example, the fear of being trapped under the rubble or locked in a place with little oxygen or tied, all these situations are in which the person sees her freedom restricted, which generates a lot of fear.
More than the fear of loneliness itself, one of the most common fears is to lose contact with the world, several situations put us on alert to this risk. Rejection or contempt, for example, is a sign that we may lose our connection to the group and be excluded.
Lack of recognition, respect or appreciation causes deep emotional wounds and increases fear of loneliness. Envy and jealousy are feelings related to this fundamental fear. In envy lies the belief that one will be devalued and/or “eliminated”, depending on the attributes of the other In jealousy, there is fear of abandonment.
Fear of mutilation is part of the fundamental instinct to preserve our unity and integrity as human beings, we make our bodies equivalent to ourselves, and we want it to continue to function, so sometimes we fear certain instruments, such as needles or knives.
The fear of getting sick is also closely linked to what we tell, we are afraid of damaging our body generating a condition that harms its proper functioning, that is why we stay away from dirty places, wild animals, snakes, etc.
It is similar to fear of loneliness, but in this case more than exclusion we fear public humiliation, the feeling of collective contempt is something that no one wants to feel, this cannot mean that someone loses their place in a group, but promotes a condition of inferiority and dependence.
This fear and fear of loneliness are social in nature, the more diverse and open a society is, the less present these fears will be; on the other hand, in strict and traditionalist groups, it is a fear that is very present.
Fears common to the human race have long been known. The publicity and propaganda of power use them to shape our actions. Human beings are also infinitely intelligent and creative, and we can learn to deal with these fears without being paralyzed or succumbing to pressure.