TheBlueprint
Designing A Line Of Thinking
The necessary evil: Explaining why getting the heebie-jeebies is just another preventive measure
-Tanvi Dahiya
Fear, an emotion induced by perceived threat, is often considered something to be embarrassed about and used as comedic relief in stories. What most do not realise is that fear has actually helped our species stand the test of time. Nyctophobia the irrational fear of darkness; I still despise dark spots but have gotten over it by telling myself that it was simply a neurological con-play whose effect can be suppressed. But sometimes some of us still need to chant the Hanuman Chalisa under their breath when they need to go to the bathroom in the wee hours of the morning. But these strong emotions are bound to be advantageous, otherwise our brain would not emphasize on these emotions. Apparently, the answer to all of this is not that simple; and it tends to send one spiralling down the rabbit hole of primal drives, tacky genetics and modern insecurities.
The root of all this trouble does not look very impressive. It is an almond-shaped cluster of nuclei situated in our brain’s limbic system, called amygdala. It spurs into action as soon as it registers emotions on another human’s face. The reaction becomes more pronounced when these features bear semblance with anger and fear. Such a threat stimulus, like the sight of a predator, provokes a fear response. It activates the areas
While many phobias are rare and seem outright outlandish to many, there are some universal fears. As discussed above, fear of the dark, coined as nyctophobia (AKA the cloth pile which is just a pile of cloth but looks like a giant demon in the darkness syndrome), is extremely common. It is not really our fault, because we are hardwired to despise it. It is not the darkness itself that is scary, it is what it masks. Humans have always feared the unknown, and darkness ensures that we do not know about the dangers that may lie ahead. A predator or an obstacle is completely concealed, and the feeling of vulnerability that comes along with it strips a human of their rationality. Collins stated that it is in the dark that we truly succumb to our innately primal behavior. Hence, it was this very fear that helped our ancestors survive, because they subjected themselves to less danger by reserving all the hunting and gathering for daytime. It is entirely possible that these instincts were genetically passed onto us through the limbic area of the brain, known as the hub of emotions. While your chances of encountering a lion on a midnight stroll to the kitchen for a midnight snack are almost zero (almost), it serves as an example that everything in our life is there for a reason. And who knows, this fear might save you from getting mugged someday.
involved in motor functions, kind of like telling you to make a break for it. At least now introverts have someone to blame their social anxiety on.
The next one might not be a phobia; it was another instinct that was detrimental to our species’ survival. It is despising bitterness. This perhaps even more relatable than nyctophobia, since most of us have been scolded for leaving out the bitter vegetables in our meals. But there is actually a concrete reason why many have a strong despise for this flavor. Our ancestors gathered edible substances, and often had to rely on their instincts and sense of taste to determine what kind of
This means that we have been under millennia of evolutionary pressure to steer clear of bitter compounds. These genetic instincts helped us avoid bitter plant toxins and proved to be an evolutionary advantage. While you cannot control your taste-buds, at least now you have a valid reason for leaving out those broccolis on the plate!
food was suitable for consumption. It turns out that many bitter substances are also toxic.
While all the talk regarding phobias has been relatively light-hearted up until now, the elephant in the room needs to be addressed. It is a problem that plagues our generation. Our biggest evolutionary advantage has been living in packs to fend off predators, but this advantage became our weakness and the root cause of yet another fear. It should come as no surprise that many fear that they would not fit in. This is termed as FOMO, or Fear of Missing Out. It is a social anxiety that others might be enjoying themselves without you. While this phobia sounds like a failed Hip-Hop album, it is perhaps one of the most pressing concerns of our generation. It leads to loneliness and depression, and many turn to unhealthy coping techniques to deal with the constant sinking feeling. Many children feel unvalidated and often turn to social media to seek validation and try their hardest to keep up with everyone.
This is an unhealthy coping method, since it soon turns into a vicious cycle. They post for likes and comments, and feel validated for a second. But as soon their ‘friends’ stop contacting them, they feel obligated to keep on posting. It is much better to have a small, well-knit circle of friends instead of having thousands of followers. Yes, my misguided comrade, your number of Instagram followers does not determine how interesting you are. You do not need to post the picture of your ramen noodle ‘dinner’ on Instagram. Perhaps the very reason that people feel lonely is because they spend an unhealthy amount of time on-screen. It is ironic how social media, a platform for creating new friends and connecting with people all over the world, makes us feel this alienated.
To conclude, we are not even close to fully understanding the darkest corners of our mind, but that does not mean that you should feel intimidated by your fears. They have served your ancestors well, and are bound to help you from making brash decisions. While fear is essentially a reaction to a specific stimulus, it can be your best friend or worst enemy, depending on how you deal with it. As rightfully stated by Ruth Gendler, “Fear has a large shadow, but he himself is small.”