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Who lived in Massachusetts when the Europeans came?
In the 1600 and 1700s, the Massachusett, Wampanoag, and Nipmuc peoples lived in the area that European colonizers called Massachusetts. Other indigenous peoples also lived or traveled in the area. Do Native Americans still live in Massachusetts? Today, there are two federally recognized tribes in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. These are the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) and the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribes. Keep in mind that in the US, there are many tribes that are not federally recognized. Where can you learn about Native Americans in the 21st century? It is best to learn about a people group from those people themselves. Here are some links to help you get started learning about indigenous peoples in Massachusetts. Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah)
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1. The U.S. Federal Government recognizes 574 Native American tribes and Alaska entities.
Notice that this is a number of people groups the U.S. government recognizes. That is different than the number of people groups that exist or have existed. 2. Many non-Native Americans don’t know much about Native American culture, in the past or the present. In my experience, K-12 education spends more time on European history than it does on the history and culture of the Native peoples living in our own country. And the little that is taught about Native Americans stops in the 1800s and rarely teaches about the people who lived in the area where the school is located. 3. Some Native American tribes had their own newspapers starting in the early 1800s. Unfortunately, many of these older newspapers stopped being published in the early-mid 20th century. For tribes recognized by the U.S. government, it is possible to find websites with current information for and about that tribe. For other tribes, it can take some digging to find current publications. Native America Today is one generalized contemporary publication. 4. Native Americans serve in the U.S. military at a higher per capita rate than any other ethnic group, according to the Library of Congress. You can hear these men and women tell their stories on the LOC Legacies of Service: Celebrating Native Americans webpage. 5. Native Americans have the same types of jobs and professions as non-Native Americans. You can watch a video of an Algonquin, Siletz, and Tla-o-qui-aht in a panel discussion on the impacts of climate change and how to mitigate those effects. 6. Nearly 7 million Americans identify as Native American. Considering that census data is only as good as the individuals who self-report, and that poorer people and minorities are less likely to trust giving their information to the U.S. government, it is probable that this number is much higher. This post focuses on Halloween as practiced in the United States and as influenced by European traditions. The term “commercial Halloween” is used to distinguish practices from religious observances that take place on or near Halloween.
Classic commercial Halloween traditions include parties, costumes, trick-or-treating, and jack-o-lanterns. There are newer traditions, too. Ghost Tours There are ghost tours year-round, especially at historic sites, but they tend to be promoted more around October and Halloween. I was unable to find anything on the free internet about the history of ghost tours or when the first ghost tour was thought to have taken place. I was surprised. I thought this would have been a popular topic. Haunted Hay Rides Hay rides are popular at the pumpkin patch and other cool-weather diversions. Did you know that in October, these slightly boring, but nostalgic, rides turn into scary events? Apparently, haunted hayrides are like a mix between a normal hayride and a haunted walk. Haunted Houses It’s uncertain when or where the first haunted house event took place. In the United States, neighborhood haunted houses probably began in the 1930s as a way to keep boys from confusing vandalism with pranks. In the 21st century, there are still neighborhood and other events for younger children, as well as commercial haunted houses or trails. As people became harder to frighten, the haunted houses got scarier. Nowadays, one should carefully read the warnings of each haunted house and take them seriously when considering whether or not to participate. Horror Movie Marathons Some people like being scared so much that they dedicate hours (days?) of their lives watching scary movie after gory movie. TV channels make this easy by filling their slots with frightening shows. Pumpkin Chunkin’ Some people like finding ways to send pumpkins flying through the air and then watching them smash and splatter. All things considered, this is probably one of the least dangerous ways to make flying objects explode. Trunk or Treat Trunk or treat probably started with church groups in the 1990s in an attempt to make the church appealing to people who didn't attend. The reasons for holding a trunk or treat vary.
These are a few less traditional Halloween activities that have become more popular in the 20th and 21st centuries. Sadly, the art of sitting around a fire and telling stories (scary or not) seems to have been lost outside of books and shows. How’s that for a Halloween party idea? Light the fire (or candles if you don’t have a fireplace) and every guest has to tell one story. This post focuses on Halloween as practiced in the United States and as influenced by European traditions. The term “commercial Halloween” is used to distinguish practices from religious observances that take place on or near Halloween.
Halloween Parties Commercial Halloween parties can be considered rooted in Samhain gatherings, although the fun, autumnal celebration in the U.S. is probably more likely from harvest or autumn “play parties” or social gatherings in colonial North America that may have included ghost stories and autumn games like bobbing for apples. Jack-o-Lantern Once again, carving a gourd, like a turnip or pumpkin, and putting a light inside as a lantern is credited with origins in Samhain. A more detailed origin story involves a mean man named Jack who’s ghost ended up wandering the earth with a turnip lantern. When European immigrants came to North America, they traded the turnip for a pumpkin. Masks and costumes It is uncertain where the tradition of wearing a mask or costume came from. Some say the practice originated with Samhain; others say there is little evidence of that. A casual observation suggests that in the United States, as people had more expendable income, elaborate costumes became more important to the holiday. Also, as social tolerance for gore and horror grew, very scary masks and costumes for children became more acceptable. I was scared of what the algorithms would give me when I wasn’t prepared if I searched for why sexy costumes are popular at Halloween, especially sexy scary. Parades Is this a classic tradition? I hadn’t heard of one until I started researching this topic, but apparently, Halloween parades in North America have existed for a long time. If you want to count Guy Fawkes processions, then the tradition goes back even farther. I couldn’t find a lot on the history of Halloween parades. I did find bits and pieces that put Halloween parades in the mid-twentieth century. Trick-or-Treat No one knows exactly when the custom of asking for treats in order to prevent the asker from vandalizing a home started, but the tradition is credited with origins in Samhain. By the 1920s, the term, or versions of it, were in print, although it seems that the practice goes back to pre-colonial days in the U.S. and was unrelated to religious observances. This post focuses on Halloween as practiced in the United States and as influenced by European traditions. The term “commercial Halloween” is used to distinguish practices from religious observances that take place on or near Halloween.
There are three main holidays that influenced the practices of a commercial U.S. Halloween. Samhain This Celtic autumnal holiday was a time of practicing witchcraft, often with the goal of attempting to connect with the dead or the spirit world. Fire, masks, and offerings of food or sweets may have been part of ancient Samhain observances. In the 21st century, Samhain is sometimes referred to as The Witches’ New Year. Like the ancient holiday, this is still a time for practicing witchcraft and some may use the day to honor their dead ancestors. It is still believed that the “veil” between the spirit world and the human world is thinnest on this day. Pomona Pomona was a Roman deity of orchards. Specifically, the apple was connected with Pomona. The Romans had a feast day dedicated to her and as a way of marking the start of autumn. Then again, some believe that the Feast of Pomona cannot be proven. Whether or not the feast day existed, the idea of a woman/goddess named Pomona who is important to apples is present in many historic paintings and other forms of art. All Saints Day and All Souls Day Technically, these are two separate holidays, but I’ve combined them as influences because they coordinate with each other. All Saints Day, a celebration that began in the early Christian/Catholic church, was also known as All Hallows Day. That made the night before All Hallows Eve. All Souls Day is the day after All Saints Day. All Souls Day is a time for honoring the dead. Honorable Mention: Guy Fawkes Day Guy Fawkes Day remembers a man, Guy Fawkes, who was part of a Catholic group that tried to blow up the British Parliament. This was when the official British religion was Protestant and Catholics were not allowed. The plan failed, but Guy Fawkes was caught and sentenced to death for his role in the plot. The next year, there was a celebration, including bonfires and burning effigies of Fawkes. These traditions, or something like them, continue today. How did we get to a modern Halloween? Throughout the centuries, there was a lot of cultural mingling. Customs were mixed. For political and religious reasons, some holidays were banned and others promoted. But we all know, just because something is forbidden, that doesn’t stop people from doing it. As time went on, the religious connections to certain practices were lost or considered less important. The fun parts of celebrations, like getting candy or dressing up in costume, were used as reasons for friends and communities to have fun together. This post focuses on Halloween as practiced in the United States and as influenced by European traditions.
1. Halloween is an abbreviation of All Hallows Eve. The word “halloween” comes from the blend word “hallowe’en” which comes from the phrase “All Hallow’s Eve(n).” “Hallows Eve(n)” got blended into one word “hallowe’en,” which has since been condensed to halloween. 2. Commercial (or secular) celebrations of Halloween are different from religious observances that happen around the same date. Wiccans and others observe rituals or celebrations about the time of year that Halloween is observed, but these groups may have religious rites attached to their observances. 3. Halloween is influenced by earlier holidays. Samhain is the holiday most often attributed with influencing Halloween traditions. Other ancient holidays that may have influenced Halloween observances include Pomona, All Saints Day, and Guy Fawkes Day. 4. It is estimated that the United States spends over $10 billion on Halloween. That’s a lot of money for something that lasts only one day! At least with Christmas, the presents can be used for months or years afterwards. 5. It is estimated that $2-$3 billion dollars are spent on candy each Halloween. Considering how much cheap candy is bought, I wonder how much of that candy (and by proxy, the dollars that bought it) end up in the trash. 6. There is Halloween music. We might not hear spooky, Halloween-themed music all September and October like we hear Christmas music for months, but there does exist music that people consider Halloween songs.
Poem 1 Could you bring me my favorite? And join me to savor it? Not saying that we’ll cave for it. Dinner will wait for it. You know which is my favorite. Poem 2 Crunchy, creamy, cocoa, and crisp Apple, soda, pizza, and pie Not a flavor is let go by Daring and odd, fads are a wisp You leave them behind with a sigh Poem 3 Can I eat it all the day And never think of how much I weigh? No, not really, if longevity in good health is your goal Do think carefully on the caramel roll. Your choices today in tomorrow will have a say. How did Dum-Dums get their name? Dum-Dums were invented in 1924. The name was chosen because the inventor thought it would be easy for children to remember. How popular are Dum-Dums? Spangler, the company that makes Dum Dums, claims to produce 12 million Dum-Dums per day. These lollipops are often given out by businesses. From my experience, the reason Dum-Dums are so popular as give-aways is that they are cheap and they don’t contain most allergens. Interestingly, given how cheap Dum-Dums are and that they are safe for most people with food allergies, Dum-Dum lollipops do not make the list of top Halloween candies. How many Dum-Dum flavors are there? Dum-Dum flavors come and go. There were seven original flavors. Now, there are about 16 standard flavors. There are also many novelty flavors, like S’mores and Pizza, added and removed here and there.
How did tootsie rolls get their name?
Tootsie Rolls are named after the inventor’s daughter. I wonder how much Clara was teased when her classmates found out a candy was named after her? Did she ever escape being asked for free candy? Did selfish boys think she was supposed to be “sweet” and give them whatever affection they wanted? Did she hate her pet name but her father loved it? And if, like me, you thought tootsie as a pet name referred to being very flatulent, apparently, “Toots” and its variations was a common term of endearment given to women in the late 19th to mid 20th centuries. What role did Tootsie Rolls play in wars? In WWII, Tootsie Rolls were given to soldiers because they didn’t melt like regular chocolate. In the Korean War, Marines used Tootsie Rolls to repair bullet holes, presumably in equipment. They plastered the warm candy onto the hole and it stayed when the candy froze. What flavor are Tootsie Rolls? Traditional Tootsie Rolls have cocoa and a fruit flavor. Looking at different recipes for making Tootsie Rolls knock-offs at home, often, no fruit extract is used. Some sites suggest that Tootsie Rolls have an orange undertone flavor. Today, there are also other flavors of Tootsie Rolls made by the Tootsie Roll company. Vanilla is one example. How many Tootsie Rolls are sold in a year? I couldn’t find out how many Tootsie Rolls are sold each year in the U.S. Stock Analysis says that Tootsie Roll Industries had a fiscal year 2022 revenue of over $725 M. That’s for all the company’s products, though, not just Tootsie Rolls.
Where were Jolly Ranchers first made?
Jolly Ranchers were created by a company in Colorado. Jolly Ranchers have nothing to do with a rancher or a ranch, as far as I can tell. It seems the name was chosen because it was a nod to the U.S. west and Bill and Dorothy Harmsen thought it was a friendly name. It’s interesting how word connotations change. “Jolly” always feels a little forced or fake to me. What’s the most popular Jolly Rancher flavor? The hard candy that can cut your tongue when it gets too thin has stayed popular for decades. Like other hard candy, red has stayed a favorite “flavor.” The first red Jolly Rancher might have been cinnamon. I couldn’t confirm this, but because cinnamon (Fire Stix) was one of the first flavors and later Fire Stix Jolly Ranchers were red, I assume the first ones were, too. At any rate, cherry soon was added to the flavor selections. Today, there are at least four red flavors of Jolly Ranchers: cherry, watermelon, strawberry, and fruit punch. Red is such a popular “flavor,” that you can even buy bags of only red Jolly Ranchers. How many Jolly Ranchers are sold each year? I couldn’t find out how many pieces or pounds of the hard Jolly Rancher candy is sold each year. Statista says that in 2021, Jolly Ranchers were the top-selling hard candy in the U.S. 1. Billions of dollars are spent on candy each year in the U.S.
I couldn't find an amount that was consistent across multiple sources, but over $30 billion annual candy sales seems to be the most common range. 2. The average person in the U.S. eats 8 pounds of candy in a year. Now, we don’t know what, exactly, “average” means in this case or how the pounds per person was calculated, but 8 pounds of candy in a year doesn’t seem like that much when I consider the weight of a chocolate bar. 3. M&Ms are one of the most popular candies in the U.S. Again, I couldn’t find consensus across sites as to the most popular candy, but M&Ms and Snickers consistently made the top 10. 4. Jolly Ranchers are one of the top-selling hard candies. It was hard to find a list of most popular hard candies, but Statista claims that Jolly Ranchers were the most sold hard candy in 2022. On the other hand, more than one site claims that Werther’s Hard Caramels are the best-tasting hard candy. 5. Red is the most popular “flavor” of candy that isn’t chocolate. I couldn’t actually find multiple sites that consistently told the most popular flavor of hard candy, but red kept showing up as the most popular color. I did find sites that suggested mixed flavor packs, like Skittles or Haribo Berries are the most popular. 6. Some think Circus Peanuts are the worst candy you can buy. In fact, they are so unpopular, they don’t even make it onto many “worst candy” lists. I’m a little surprised by this because they are basically stale, colored marshmallows. I haven’t eaten a Circus Peanut in decades, but I have eaten stale, colored marshmallows that continue to be sold, but under the term “marshmallow.” I wonder if the lack of popularity for Circus Peanuts has to do with a loss of the nostalgia that goes with them combined with the color and texture? Kids eat plenty of gross things. I don’t know why this one fell out of favor. Bonus: Gummies and anything else that isn’t chocolate gets classified as “hard candy.” At least, in general usage on the websites I found. I don’t know about officially in the candy-making industry or casually among average people. Selected Sources “Consumers Spent a Record $36.9B on Candy in 2021” by Megan Poinski on Food Dive; Accessed 2023, September 29. “A Definitive Ranking of the Best (and Worst) Halloween Candy of All Time” by Felicia Lalomia on Delish; Accessed 2023, September 29. “Discover the Most Popular Candy Colors in American Culture” by Robert Beadle on Candy Retailer; Accessed 2023, September 29. “How Much Candy Do Americans Eat in a Whole Year?” by Rahel Mathews on The Conversation; Accessed 2023, September 29. “A Marketer Explains Why Red and Pink Candies Are the Most Popular” by Julie R. Thomson on HuffPost; Accessed 2023, September 29. “The Most Popular Hard Candy Flavors of All Time” by K C on One on One Flavors Flavor Superstore; Accessed 2023, September 29. “Top 12 American Candy Brands” by Doug Carlin on USA by #umbers; Accessed on 2023, September 29. “The Top 27 Best-Selling Candy Products of the Year” by Robert Beadle on Candy Retailer; Accessed 2023, September 29. “Top Ten Worst Candies - Ranked” by Marisa Blankenship on Spoon University; Accessed 2023, September 29. “The Worst Halloween Candy, and the Best Too” by Ben George on Candystore.com; Accessed 2023, September 29. What is the history of horror movies?
As you would expect, any genre that sold novels was fair game for the film industry, right from the beginning. To keep this a short, focused post, this article looks at the history of Western, primarily U.S., horror movies. 1890s - 1930s The early-mid 1900s are considered the Golden Age of Horror films. In the early days, black and white silent films were perfect for horror because
Even once films started having spoken dialogue, overacting, extreme makeup, and the limited color palette made it easy to create images to fear. 1940s - 1950s The 1940s and 1950s continued developing the horror movie genre. Alfred Hitchcock is most well known from this time period, even among those who dislike horror films. This is partly because many of his “horror” movies were psychological dramas and appealed to audiences who liked suspense, but not supernatural or fantastical elements. Because of Hithcock’s innovations and willingness to take risks, the following decades saw more slasher films and psychological dramas pushing the limits of what was considered acceptable to see on a movie screen. 1960s - 1970s Acceptance of violence and gore in movies coincided with changes in culture. Through the 1960s and 1970s, people more openly questioned their grandparents’ values and ways of life. The ability to live as one chose without concern for societal expectations was openly promoted and celebrated. 1980s-1990s In the 1980s, special effects ruled, but the monsters and other elements of horror films remained. The occult, or evil supernatural elements, were popular themes during this decade. Horror films in the 1990s began to move away from the slasher gore of the previous decade, focusing instead on psychological manipulation to create fear. Or at least, the villains of these films were more complex than in previous decades. 2000s - 2020s The early 2000s returned to gore and more gore, plus zombies, vampires, werewolves, demons, and all the other horror tropes from previous decades. The COVID-19 pandemic brought a new era for horror movies. Movies, or more likely, a streaming series, may still have gore, monsters, the occult, or other horror staples, but they also might focus on things that people in society right now fear. These horror films are more closely connected to the almost-real-life style of horror than to the fantastical, sci-fi styles. Horror stories, in the sense of stories designed to frighten the listener or reader, have been around for a long time. The free internet isn’t clear on when a horror story was first written down, but it seems like it was in ancient times.
Looking at horror novels specifically, it is still unclear. Narrowing down to European literature starts to give us more specific answers. It could be said that Dante’s Divine Comedy, Inferno is a work of horror literature. But is it a novel? The ghost story The Apparition of Mrs. Veal is thought to have been written by Daniel Defoe in the early 1700s. Again, this work isn’t what readers in the 21st century think of as a novel. In the late 1700s, Horace Walpole published The Castle of Otranto, which some consider to be the first published European horror novel. Others don’t classify this story as horror. A few years after the success of The Castle of Otranto, Matthew Lewis wrote The Monk. The free internet seems united in considering this a novel that contains horror, at least by the standards of the time in which it was published. The genre of horror literature continued to grow throughout the 1800s. If you can name a horror novel that was written before the late 1900s, one of the titles you think of probably was published in the nineteenth century. These titles include:
Once horror novels became socially acceptable, there was no turning back. The 1900s saw many horror stories produced, including in novels. As readers became accustomed to the various ways writers sought to cause fear, they were less terrified. This led to writers having to become more inventive to create feelings of horror. Today, horror novels have many subgenres. What scares you? There’s probably a horror novel in that category. Some people think it is fun to feel afraid. I couldn’t find precise numbers on the free internet, but it’s estimated that 10% of feature films are horror movies. When we add in TV or streaming shows and independent films, I suspect that number may be higher.
A lot of what I could find on the free internet uses data that is heading towards 10 years old. Still, the general consensus seems to be that even in the 2020s, horror films are both profitable and popular. Anecdotally, in my experience as a public librarian, books with elements of horror remain popular. They are not as often directly asked for as other genres, but they definitely have a devoted readership. Also, when I browse streaming services for TV shows and movies, it feels like there are more horror options than all the others combined. I’ve not taken the time to count because:
Regardless of my personal preferences, many people seem to enjoy horror. There are many subgenres of horror. It seems to me that supernatural films are the most frequently promoted, but browsing through results for an internet search asking “most popular types of horror films,” suggests that psychological horror is the most popular. I wonder if this is because psychological horror requires more skilled writing and acting, so these movies get made less often, but when they do, they tend to be higher quality and more frequently watched and talked about. In contrast, supernatural horror has the advantage of relying on the unknown. I wonder if these films are cheaper to produce and easier to write because the horror comes from the uncertainty every human has more than from carefully manipulating human emotions. With psychological horror, it seems that you would mostly need to stick with reality, but masterfully present it to produce the desired emotions. With supernatural horror, it seems that you could simply suggest an idea that no one can prove or disprove because it relies on what no human can know. Putting aside my musings, horror is a popular form of entertainment. All I ask is that you not make me encounter it. What is horror?
Horror is a type of fear. This type of fear includes feelings of repugnance. How is “horrified” related to “horror”? When someone is horrified, they may feel repugnance or loathing. A core component of horror is feeling disgust. Horror often is used to describe literature and films. In this sense, things that cause feelings of disgust and revulsion are often used to create fear. In this context, horror is used as a means of creating fear or terror, which is extreme fear. In other contexts, horror is less about fear and more about abhorrence. To abhor something is to loathe it. How is “horrified” different from “horror”? When someone has no positive feelings towards anything and only wants to avoid or eliminate the thing, they can be described as horrified. “Horrified” in American English is generally used to express a positive response to something near-universally accepted as very wrong. When someone expresses shock and disgust at seeing an adult stomp on a baby, we can describe the viewer as being horrified. We do not primarily mean that the viewer is afraid, although they might be. We mean that they are repulsed by the adult's actions. In contrast, someone who sees something frightening, like a monster slasher film, would not typically be described as horrified. They are watching events that cause feelings of horror, but we describe them as frightened, not horrified. This means that context is important when talking about horror. Do we mean the emotion, which may be a socially-desired response to something socially condemned, or do we mean a genre of literature, film, or other artistic expression? Context tells us whether what we are seeing is in the horror genre of art or is a reason to be horrified. Why do we feel afraid?
Safety, if only just. Of what are we afraid? Falling, noise, loss of trust. Why do we feel afraid? Thrills, hope to feel the rush. Of what are we afraid? Spiders, gore, knives, and pus. What good does it do us? Our minds become unmade. Is fear expressed in the same ways across cultures? Do all cultures consider the same things frightening? These questions can’t be answered in a short post, but here are a few thoughts pulled from the free internet. How is Fear Expressed?
What is Frightening?
I found it surprising that I found so little about the cultural differences or similarities in fear.
I thought these were the type of questions the internet would love to answer. I was wrong. My search results primarily talked about cultures of fear. I also didn’t want to spend hours trying different search parameters, so it could be that I stopped looking before discovering the winning search phrases. I’m sure something that addresses these questions exists somewhere, but for these short posts, I try to stick with things anyone could access on the open web. Selected Sources “A Look at Culture-Specific Phobias” by Lisa Fritscher on Very Well Mind; Accessed 2023, September 15. “Towards an Anthropology of Fear: are some things universally terrifying?” on Human Relations Area Files; Accessed 2023, September 15. “We’re All Scared of the Same Things…or Are We? Emotional Differences Across Cultures” by David Livermore, PhD on Cultural Intelligence Center; Accessed 2023, September 15.
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:
The effects of fear also include things slowing or stopping, like:
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. Fear is an emotion that humans experience when they perceive that they are, or will be, in danger.
Fear is caused by things that are, or appear to be, physically dangerous. Examples of physical danger include:
Fear is also caused by things that are psychologically dangerous, or at least feel dangerous. Examples of psychological danger include:
When something is both physically and psychologically dangerous, there is a greater risk of fear. Examples of these mixed causes include:
There are many things that cause people to feel afraid. Fear is common to all humans, although not all humans experience it in the same way or from the same things. At its core, this unpleasant emotion is useful for keeping us safe. Because of that, fear can be considered a helpful emotion and not something to avoid at all costs. 1. Fear is an emotion caused by the presence of or the perception of danger.
Fear is an emotion. That means a human can experience it without their consent. It also means that people place different value judgments on experiencing that emotion. Like other emotions, people experience fear at different levels and their bodies’ natural expressions of fear may vary. Also like other emotions, people will have different vocabulary to describe what they are feeling. 2. Fear, broadly speaking, includes a range of emotions like nervousness and terror. Because fear includes such a wide range of emotions, people may not always identify what they are feeling as fear in the broad sense. They also may identify their emotion as something different than an outside observer would call it. For example, someone may say, “I feel stressed” and an observer would say, “You seem nervous.” This could be because of the differences in words accessible to a person, because humans don’t always understand themselves well, or another reason. 3. We don’t know why people feel fear for reasons that don’t make sense to others. Psychology Today says that at least 60% of adults have an unreasonable fear. That’s a lot of people having their lives limited by something that doesn’t limit others! That’s a lot of people getting laughed at by the people around them for something they didn’t choose! 4. People can be afraid of being afraid. If you know someone with this condition (phobophobia), be kind to them. Because fear is an emotion, people don’t choose to feel it. 5. Some people think fear is fun. This has something to do with the sympathetic nervous system. Basically, you feel good when your body relaxes after being afraid. Some people like the contrast in feelings so much that they seek out fear in order to get the good feelings afterwards. 6. Chronic fear causes a lot of physical and mental problems. Chronic, or long-lasting, fear can result in difficulty learning, changes to how the body functions, inability to feel love, despair, and other life-altering problems. Basically, being afraid for days on end is not good for humans. Considering that fear is a broad term for a range of emotions and knowing how many people are living in danger or uncertainty, this is sobering. |
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Jill Hames is a writer, musician, biblical studies teacher, and ESL tutor who finds life too interesting to pick a niche. She has a B.A. in Music and Spanish, a Masters in Library and Information Science, is TEFL.org 168-hour certified to teach English as a second language, and is working towards a Master of Divinity. Jill is a member of Delta Omicron and the International Women's Writing Guild.
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Copyright 2025
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Copyright 2025