B.U. Bridge is published by the Boston University Office of University Relations.

Contact Us

Staff

Ask the Bridge

Why doesn't everyone fear the same thing?

"The development of fears and phobias is a fascinating but complex process influenced by an interaction of genes and experience," says David Barlow, a CAS professor of psychology and the director of the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders.

"For example, if you are afraid of dogs, many people used to think that you must have had a bad experience with a dog, such as being bitten. But when we surveyed individuals who had been bitten by dogs, we found that most did not develop a fear of dogs. On the other hand, among those individuals who do have a fear or a phobia -- a more severe form of fear that interferes with your ability to function -- most had not actually had a frightening experience with a dog in their background.

"What accounts for this puzzle? First, it seems that we inherit a tendency to be uptight or emotional, although this alone does not mean that we will develop fears or phobias. Second, if we have this biological vulnerability, then having a bad experience with, for example, a dog might lead to a fearful reaction. But the bad experience doesn't necessarily mean being bitten. It may be enough if your parents repeatedly warned you to watch out for dogs or if they acted fearfully in the presence of a dog themselves. Even though you may know a dog is harmless, if you see someone else being fearful then this information stays with you in a very basic way in your emotional brain.

"Finally, we now know that there are some fears and phobias that we seem to inherit as a species, probably based on the experiences of our ancestors when they lived in caves millennia ago. For example, it is much easier for us to develop fears about snakes or spiders (as it is for our close relatives, the primates) than it is to develop fears of more objectively dangerous things such as knives or electric outlets. Thus, it seems that nature has prepared us as a species to be wary of objects and situations that were dangerous to the species in times past.

"To make it a bit more complicated, extreme stress -- such as precipitated by the tragic attacks that occurred on September 11 -- tends to make us more fearful in general. Thus, a fear that you didn't know you had might suddenly appear, much to your surprise."

"Ask the Bridge" welcomes readers' questions. E-mail bridge@bu.edu or write to "Ask the Bridge," 10 Lenox Street, Brookline, MA 02446.

28 September 2001
Boston University
Office of University Relations