Both fear and anxiety are provoked by danger. Fear is the response to a specific and immediate danger. Anxiety results from a non-specific concern or threat. Today many threats are psychological rather than physical, but the same primitive impulse often takes hold.

Definitions

1. Imminent danger,
2. Personal security or pain is threatened,
3. Concern for a future specific unpleasant event
4. Perceived loss of safety.

Fear describes a specific and sudden danger to your physical well-being. When fear passes, we feel relief and often exhilaration.

Related Terms

Synonyms for fear include: horror, fright, petrified, scared, and terrified. The terms dread, alarm, and panic may refer to either anxiety or fear.

Origins, Archetypes, and the Plot of Fear

There are several unlearned triggers for fear, including:

• something hurling rapidly toward you, such as a truck racing toward you
• sudden loss of support, such as the floor giving way,
• The threat of physical pain,

Also, there are any number of learned triggers for fear, such as receiving a letter from the IRS, being called to the principal's office, or entering a dark room. People also fear losing control, humiliation or shame. The common theme is avoiding threats.

Physical Reactions:

Fear causes a variety of reactions depending on the intensity, timing, and coping options available. The reactions include:

• Freezing in place and feeling terror if we can't do anything to avoid the immediate danger.
• Running from the immediate danger,
• Sharply focusing our attention and mobilizing us to act to reduce or eliminate the danger when we can take effective action to cope with the threat, or
• Panic, including shortness of breath, racing heartbeat, and the inability to focus on anything but worrying about the feared future event,
• Fighting to destroy the object of our fear.

Fear also often causes cold hands, deeper and more rapid breathing, sweating, and trembling or tightening of the muscles, especially in the arms and legs.

We estimate the risks and vulnerability of the threat almost instantly and then fight, freeze, focus, or flee based on this assessment.

Courage, Bravery, and Valor

A courageous person understands danger, and chooses to overcome their fear and proceed to face the danger. It is not fearlessness, recklessness, or rashness. It is a well considered and brave decision to behave constructively despite the fear.

Related Moods and Traits

The term anxiety refers to the lengthy metal state of being worried for an unknown reason. Some researchers classify anxiety as a mood and others as a separate emotion.

Facial Expression:

Fear expressions send a danger warning to those close by. Screaming also sends a danger warning.

The facial expression of fear has these distinctive features: Raised eyebrows, tensed lower eyelids, eyebrows drawn together, Lips stretched horizontally,

Coping

We cope with anxiety by trying to prepare, distracting ourselves, seeking reassurance, or taking steps to reduce the threat.

Phobias

Images of Fear:

Here are some facial expressions of fear. Most are posed and a few are spontaneous.

Also, the famous painting "The Scream" by Edvard Munch captures an memorable image of fear.

References

[laz] Passion and Reason: Making Sense of Our Emotions by Richard S. Lazarus, Bernice N. Lazarus

[Ekm] Emotions Revealed : Recognizing Faces and Feelings to Improve Communication and Emotional Life by Paul Ekman

[OCC] The Cognitive Structure of Emotions by Andrew Ortony, Gerald L. Clore, Allan Collins

[Gol] Destructive Emotions : A Scientific Dialogue with the Dalai Lama by Daniel Goleman

Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment, by Martin Seligman

Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Create Your Life, Your Relationships, and Your World in Harmony with Your Values, by Marshall B. Rosenberg, Arun Gandhi