Fear: As Protection

Fear serves a protective function.

​A human feels fear when they consciously or subconsciously perceive a threat. The emotion of fear prepares the body and mind for actions intended to protect the human.

The way fear prepares the body to respond to a threat is by releasing hormones that affect bodily functions. 

The effects of fear include things getting faster or starting, like: 

• Muscles tightening (which can be seen when hair stands up or “goosebumps” form)
• Increased rate of respiration, or 
• Increased heart rate.

The effects of fear also include things slowing or stopping, like: 

• The digestive system slows or stops,
• The body becomes very still (freezes), or
• The “thinking” part of the brain loses control. 

But how do these effects of fear work to protect a human?

In cases of perceived, but unreal, danger, such as giving a speech at work, the physiological results of fear aren't much help. 

In cases of real danger, the way fear affects the mind and body may or may not be helpful.

For example:

If someone sees a group of people brandishing weapons coming their way, and then feels an increase in heart rate and respiration, their muscles are primed for them to run away quickly. 

On the other hand, if someone is in a competition that requires precise muscle control and their muscles are tensed to run away, that physical effect of fear may be a negative influence on their performance.

Or taking freezing in fear as an example.

If someone is hiding from a person who wants to harm them, the body instinctively reducing movement may help them to stay hidden.

In a negative example, freezing at the podium when giving a speech is not a helpful response from the body.

There are many more examples of fear protecting, or attempting to protect, the human. 

Even if it doesn’t always achieve its intended result, fear, at its most elemental, is a protective response.