“Don't be afraid!! ”
You have said or heard this recommendation frequently, for yourself, for a child, for a dog. This advice, which is intended to be reassuring, is rarely effective because it is often pronounced in a tone of voice that is not very soothing.
It is normal to be afraid. It is best to be afraid of a possible threat and to take precautions, rather than being afraid of nothing and putting yourself in danger!
Fear is universal
Fear is a primitive “negative” emotion What does a living being feel during immediate danger.
This emotion is easily contagious because Fear signals are common and understood by all.
“Don't be afraid, the doctor is nice! ”. The dog perceives the stress of its owner, the child recognizes the concern of the parent, and they are afraid in turn. They do not necessarily know what this fear is due to... but they will more easily be afraid of the veterinarian or the pediatrician!
Some fears are called “atavistic” when they are spontaneous and transmitted from generation to generation: fear of fire, detonations, storms, snakes, etc.
“My dog is afraid of the broom, I'm sure he was beaten when he was a kid! ”. This statement is not necessarily accurate. For dogs, the fear of the unknown or the fear of objects that may hit them, such as a stick in one hand, belong to the same category.
Fear is protective
Fear is a component of survival instinct. Without really knowing why, individuals spontaneously produce behaviors that ensure their physical safety. They will flee when possible, or stay still so as not to approach danger, or even defend themselves to save themselves.
Freeze, fly or fight (in English “freeze, fly or fight”), these response methods depend on the context, the individual, his previous positive or negative experiences, the lessons he learned from them and his usual mode of action.
Fear is a part of genetic selection
Without fear, an intrepid individual does not live long enough to reproduce and he does not transmit his genes. The disappearance of fear leads to reckless risk-taking, with the danger of the individual and those around him.
Otherwise, an animal that is too afraid to explore cannot get enough food and it dies very quickly.
The good and the bad fears
It is essential to be afraid to live, as long as you know your fears, you can face them and come out unscathed.
It is not normal to continue to be afraid when the threat has disappeared, or to be afraid of trivial situations.
