Michael Stevens highlights the positive effect that fear can have on our personal health, but questions the reason for our fear of objects that might not be inherently dangerous. In essence, he asks – “Why are some things creepy?” Stevens stresses the importance of “vagueness” and “ambiguity” in giving someone “the creeps” and explains the fascinating concept of the “uncanny valley.”
A wonderfully insightful talk by musician Amanda Palmer where she speaks about the importance and effectiveness of asking for help. She mentions the usual psychological obstacles which might prevent persons from asking for aid, such as fear, shame or even a misguided sense of fairness. Rather than simply demanding that her fans pay for her music, Palmer highlights the value of connecting with people, trusting them and allowing them to support their passions.
Psychologists and comic book experts come together to peer into the mind of one of the greatest and most iconic superheros of all time…Batman. They examine the ways in which Bruce Wayne manages his paralyzing fear of bats as well as the negative impact of personal tragedy on young Wayne’s psyche (eg. security issues, trust issues and overwhelming guilt). Most importantly, they discuss the power of personal choice and trauma’s unlikely role as a powerful, positive force in inducing personal growth.
All of us, at one time or another, have experienced what it means to be afraid. Fear is a normal feature of human existence and serves an adaptive function in that it triggers reactions which allow us to respond to danger or threat. At times, however, fear can become excessive, disturbing and out of proportion with reality. Persons who experience such abnormal fear are described as having a form of anxiety disorder known as a phobia.
The term phobia refers to an intense, irrational fear of a particular object or situation, whether real or imagined. The fear is so severe that it interferes with the individual’s daily functioning, restricting their activities and causing much distress. In many cases, individuals experiencing phobias recognize that their fears are irrational but feel helpless to control them. Continue reading
Clinical psychology defines a phobia as a persistent and usually irrational fear of a specific object or scenario, often disproportional to the actual danger posed. People will go to great lengths to avoid their phobias, but when an encounter is unavoidable, sufferers typically endure the event with acute distress.
Some phobias are very common. For example, many people exhibit a fear of heights or a fear of small enclosed spaces. Other phobias though, might be a bit more….err….”unique.”
Consider our alphabetized list of weird phobias below: Continue reading
