Fear is a natural instinct when it comes to self-preservation, but other fears can be developed in a person due to various outside stimuli. For example, if a dog bit you you may be more apt to fear dogs – fell off a horse, more apt to fear horseback riding – almost drown, more apt to fear water, etc. Fear conditioning is another reason why some people fear certain things. Back in 1920 a psychologist by the name of John Watson decided to test the theory of fear conditioning with a 11 month old baby. Now days what he did would prove to be borderline child abuse if not consider blatant child abuse but it did prove that fear can be taught or conditioned into someone unfoundly. What he did was conditioned the 11th month old baby to fear white mice. Every time the baby would reach out to touch the little white mice Watson created a terrifying loud noise behind the baby. Not only was the baby that once showed great joy around the laboratory mice now afraid of them, he was also afraid of any small furry animal.
Phobias are an intense type of fear that is persistent and not based off any rational sense of imminent danger. It prevents people from engaging into activities that may trigger the phobia. There are three main types of phobias: agoraphobia – fear of being trapped in a space that one could not escape from easily in case of danger, social phobia – fear on encounters with people, and specific phobia – fear of a particular thing or situation. Some common fears people have reported having are public speaking, going to the dentist, snakes, mice, heights, and getting cancer.
Experiencing fear every once in a while is a normal part of life, but when irrational fear keeps you from achieving all you can be, it is time to do something about it.
Tomorrow I plan on discussing overcoming fear. Until then, feel free to check out all the information on the Turning Point seminar at http://www.theturningpointtickets.com/.
Agoraphobia, that's me in a nutshell. I had to go in for an MRI and I was a basket case. It lasted almost 40 minutes and I cried almost the whole time. That was with medication to relieve the anxiety. I hope I don't have to go through that ever again.
ReplyDeleteWhat the heck, experimenting with a baby? That is so not cool. What kind of parent would have allowed that? I would think that would have been cruelty to a child even in 1920. I'd like to know how the baby was by the time he was done with it. What a moron.
ReplyDeleteI'm not an animal activist but sometimes what they do to lab animals seems cruel for no reason. And a baby, whatever were they thinking? I know research has to be done, but I wish they would find a better way to do it.
ReplyDeleteThat poor little guy on the right looks traumatized. I hate that animals are used for experimenting. I know humans often benefit from it but it just doesn't sit well.
ReplyDeleteI think that's cruel and unusual punishment and I'm not sure what they got from the experiment. That guy that experimented with the baby needs his butt kicked.
ReplyDeleteYou tell them Sarma and Clay. You guys took the words right out of my head.
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