Fear is an emotion that we are born with. It is a natural emotion that stays with us throughout our lives. Our fear can also work as a motivational factor for us to work hard on something. Follow this article and learn more about what are the only two fears humans are born with and what are the six basic fears that we all experience.
Fear is a natural emotion that we are born with and it is an emotion that is with us for the rest of our lives. Although fear is not such a bad emotion, it can also work as a motivational factor for us. When we are afraid of failure or when we are afraid that if we do not clear out misunderstandings with our partner then they will leave us then, this fear will help us work hard for that thing and make it better. The most supreme thing for you to know is that never let your fear empower your senses.
Not every fear is embedded in our minds right from the start, some fears are learned like the fear of crocodiles or the fear of earthquakes. But there are two fears that humans are born with, the fear of falling and the fear of loud noises. These two are innate and natural fears that people are born with, other than that, every fear is learned and external.
Follow this article to explore more about what are the only two fears humans are born with and what are the six basic fears that we all experience.
Table of Contents
What are the only two fears humans are born with?
The only two fears humans are born with are:
- Fear of falling
- Fear of loud noises
Although most of our fears are learned and external. But not all of our fears are external, there are two fears that a human is born with. These fears stay with a person for a long period of time. But as the person grows, the intensity of these fears are reduced. According to research, when a baby reaches the age of six to seven months, their brain nerves start to develop more. This makes them more aware of their surroundings thus, reducing the intensity of these innate fears.
Fear of falling:
According to scientists, most fears are learned but fear of falling is something a human is born with. An experiment was performed to test whether or not this was true or not. Scientists used young babies and newborn animals, they put them on the edge of a glass and they observed that both were afraid of standing on the glass. This was an innate fear they had. They were afraid to even step on the glass because of their fear of falling.
Fear of loud noises:
Just like fear of falling, humans are also born with the fear of loud noises as well. Even now, when we hear a loud noise we will naturally cover our ears or move away from there. This fear is innate and it stays with us throughout our lives. Just like us, even a baby will get scared from a loud noise, even the noise of something falling down will visibly make them shudder. A baby would not have any idea about the source of the sound but still they would be afraid of the noise.
What are the six basic fears that we all experience?
Aside from the two innate fears, there are many things a human is afraid of. These fears are external and learned as we grow in our lives. The six basic fears that we all learn and experience are.
- Fear of poverty
- Fear of criticism
- Fear of bad health
- Fear of not being loved
- Fear of being old
- Fear of death
Fear of poverty:
This fear is not innate; it is learned as we grow and navigate through life. The fear of not being able to provide for your family, live a comfortable life, afford education for your children, or maintain a roof over your head can lead to a fear of poverty. It is a natural fear because no one wants to see their loved ones suffer for basic necessities. This fear of poverty develops as a person matures and often remains throughout their life.
Fear of criticism:
Fear of criticism is also external and it takes place when a person is about to present their work to someone who is superior to them or to someone they look up to. A person would be afraid because they do not want them to find a mistake in their work. Any person who likes their work perfectly would have this fear that someone is going to criticize them over something. Which is why people start to obsess over small details.
Fear of bad health:
It is natural for a person to fear having bad health. No one wants to live a life where they are suffering from an illness or their loved ones are suffering from bad health. A person who always has a fear of having bad health even if they are healthy because they do not want to live a life where they have to see themselves or their loved ones suffering from a serious illness.
Fear of not being loved:
People have this fear of not being loved by the person they love the most. This fear is external, no one is born with this fear. This fear comes with emotions such as love and respect. When a person loves someone, it is natural that they would want that person to show the same emotions. Initially they would have this fear of not being loved by the person they admire the most.
Fear of being old:
There are people who have this fear of being old. They would worry about their hair turning white or when their face starts to have wrinkles. These things would make a person scared about the changes that would take place in their life. A person who has the fear of being old will try different things like facial creams, laser treatments, fat removal, and many other procedures that can help them look younger than their age.
Fear of death:
It is natural for a person to fear death. No one wants to die but when a person is suffering from an illness like cancer or tumor then, they will have this constant fear of death. They will worry about their health and they will worry if something would happen to them or not. This fear will also interfere in their daily life, they will start walking on eggshells and every little thing will make them feel scared.
How to overcome fears in your life?
Having fear is a natural thing but what is important is to learn how you can overcome your fears in life. No one wants to live their entire life being afraid of little things and no one wants their fear to overpower their sense. Following are some ways for you to overcome fears in your life.
- Take some time out
- Do not panic
- Do not try to be perfect
- Think about your happy place
- Talk about it
- Accept that you might fail
- Take your fear as a motivation
Take some time out:
It is supreme for you to take some time out for yourself. Look after yourself and indulge in activities that you like. This will take your mind off your fears. Whenever you feel like it is getting too much for you then, stop everything and take some time out and think about things from a different perspective.
Do not panic:
Panicking about things is never a solution for anything. When you fear something then, it is best for you to not panic at first. Calm yourself down and think about things from a different perspective. When you are calm, you will be able to think more clearly about your fears and their outcomes. Once you start panicking then, you might not be able to control yourself and your blood pressure will rise.
Do not try to be perfect:
No one is perfect and when you are trying too hard to be perfect then, you will have a fear of criticism and fear of rejection. You have to understand that it is okay to make mistakes because when you make mistakes only then you will be able to learn new lessons. Your mistakes will teach you new things and you will stop obsessing over perfectionism.
Think about your happy place:
When you are afraid of something then, it is supreme for you to think about your happy place. Think about a place or a person who makes you happy, someone who understands you or some place that provides comfort to you. Go there and think critically about your problems. If your happy place is a person then, simply talking to them will make you feel better and you will be able to fight your fears.
Talk about it:
Do not keep your fears inside of you, it is supreme that you talk to someone about them. If you do not want to engage in a conversation with your partner about your fears then, you can consult a professional therapist. Talking to a therapist will help you understand your fears from a different perspective and it will also help you overcome those fears.
Accept that you might fail:
It is supreme for you to understand that failure is part of our lives. We cannot have a perfect life and there will be ups and downs, it is a huge part of our lives. We do not learn from success as much as we learn from our failures and mistakes. Never be afraid to make mistakes and fail. When you try something new, it is not necessary to succeed at the first attempt. What matters is that you have to accept and acknowledge that you might fail and learn from your mistakes.
Take your fear as a motivation:
Never let your fear overpower your senses. Do not let your fear come in between your daily tasks and stop you from accomplishing your goals. Think of your fear as a motivation and let it drive you towards success.
What is the difference between fear and phobia?
There are many misconceptions about fears and phobias. Many people tend to mix them up, we must understand that both of them are very different from one another. Following are the main differences between fear and phobias.
| Fear | Phobia |
| Fear is a reaction that a person gives when they are threatened by something. | A phobia is not a response to a threat. It is an irrational fear. |
| Your fear will not interfere with your daily routine and completion of your daily tasks. | A phobia can be extremely intense, it can interfere with a person’s ability to perform daily tasks. |
| Fear is a natural emotion and it is extremely common. | Phobia is a type of an anxiety disorder. People who are suffering from anxiety are most likely to have a phobia. |
| Fear will only make you nervous temporarily. You will be fine after some time. | Suffering from phobia can make you have an anxiety attack which can be severe in intensity and can cause shortness of breath, vomiting, and dizziness. |
| Fear is a natural emotion and it cannot be overcomed by any medical treatment. | A phobia can be treated by cognitive behavioral therapy. |
| It is controllable. A person can control their emotions. | It cannot be controlled. Therapy may treat a person’s phobia but it might not be possible to completely overcome their phobia. |
Conclusion:
It is common for person to experience fear. Fear is one of the innate emotions present from birth. However, not all fears are inherent; some are learned over time, such as the fear of rejection, criticism, not being loved, aging, and death. These learned fears develop as a person grows and experiences life. The only two fears people are born with are the fear of falling and the fear of loud noises. These natural fears persist throughout a person’s life but are not considered phobias.
Though these two innate fears remain throughout life, their intensity diminishes. Around six to seven months of age, as a baby’s brain grows rapidly and they become more aware of their surroundings, these fears are still present but less impactful. These intrinsic fears are natural and, unlike learned fears, do not typically interfere with daily life as one matures.
