Humans and Phobias

Fear of heights, snakes, the dark, blood and enclosed spaces are all common phobias.  Most of you probably shuddered a bit just reading one of those things.  Fear is a personal reaction to a particular situation.  Yes, people exist who are afraid of flowers, snow and even chocolate, but they are few and far between compared with the big ones listed.  Why?  Shouldn't the numbers be more equal?  What is it about the dark or heights that unnerve a lot of people but snow only bothers a handful?

A psychologist by the name of Martin Seligman has proposed that humans are more likely to fear things that have been a threat to their survival.  Snakes can kill a human with their venom.  Heights can kill a human with a fall.  Blood signifies danger.  The dark and enclosed spaces leaves humans for vulnerable to attack.  These fears are a result of human evolution.  No, we all don't have them, but they are called "prepared" fears, meaning we have a predisposition to them.

Read more:  http://phobialist.com/class.html

Antony, et al. "Mastering Your Fears and Phobias" 2nd Edition Workbook. Oxford University Press, 2006.