By Jennifer Zach
Fear can paralyze a nation. Franklin D. Roosevelt inherited chaos when he was inaugurated as the 32nd president of the United States: the banking system had collapsed, unemployment had soared, and the economy had hit rock bottom—it was the Great Depression. Facing a national crisis, Roosevelt sought to reassure a fearful nation by proclaiming, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” His message aimed to shift the national mindset from despair to hope, encouraging Americans to recognize the pervasive power of fear and its ability to stop forward growth and further darken an already bleak situation.
The same psychological truths about fear apply today. Thanks to advances in neuroscience, psychology, and the social sciences, we now have a deeper understanding of fear and its effects on the mind and body (Porges, 2011). As Roosevelt implied, much of what we fear may not be life-threatening but rather perceived threats; these fears often amplify through the stories we tell ourselves (Porges, 2011). Understanding the nature of fear—both in Roosevelt’s era and our own—can offer valuable insights into how we respond to adversity and how we can learn to navigate our fears more effectively.
The Biological Basis of Fear
Fear is an essential survival mechanism embedded deep within our biology. It triggers the amygdala, a part of the brain responsible for activating the fight, flight, or freeze response, which helps prepare the body for survival by releasing stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol (Porges, 2023). Throughout human evolution, this response was crucial for escaping life-threatening situations, such as an encounter with a predator. However, this mechanism also activates in modern situations where the threat is often perceived.
Whether real or perceived, the release of stress hormones prepares the body for immediate action—raising heart rates, quickening breath, and tensing muscles. This heightened response is beneficial when dealing with actual threats. However, chronic activation of this response can lead to detrimental effects on health, such as increased anxiety, high blood pressure, and weakened immunity (Porges, 2023). While fear is necessary for survival, it can become harmful when sustained over long periods or triggered by non-life-threatening situations.
Real Versus Perceived Threats
A key distinction exists between real and perceived threats. The amygdala, however, does not differentiate between the two. Its sole purpose is to keep us alive (Levine, 1997). Imagine mistaking a stick for a snake. While the threat response may initially help ensure survival, we have unnecessarily expended energy if the snake is, in fact, a stick. Similarly, when fear is triggered by perceived threats—such as fear of failure, rejection, or embarrassment—it can cloud our judgment and limit our ability to think critically (Levine, 1997).
As Roosevelt suggested, much of what we fear in everyday life does not stem from real dangers but perceived threats. Fear of uncertainty, for example, can drive individuals and organizations to act defensively, stifling creativity and strategic thinking (Brown, 2018). In today’s fast-paced world, where complex challenges require innovative solutions, this kind of fear-induced paralysis can have significant consequences.
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Photo credit: Stick cropped from photo by James Wheeler, Pexels.com
