Evolution......................................vs........................ Fear
Been thinkin about this for sometime...just tht i mite blog it to find out some opinions.....
Evolution has ensured adaptation in the human race to a large extent. When we feel cold, our blood vessels contract and they dilate when we feel hot. This changes the effective surface area for heat exchange. Out teeth chatter when we're cold. This generates heat. When we remain hungry for a long time, vital body functions are shut down. Prolonged hunger causes almost all internal functions to come to a halt, except for the most essential ones.
However when we are in fear or in an emergency, it appears that our natural response is not optimally suited to the handling of a situation. We panic. The thinking process is disrupted and uneven. Palms and forheads perspire. Instead, what we need is a tranquil mind for clear thinking. A solution that we may have been able to devise if we were calm, may well elude us in our panicky and ruffled condition. Why has evolution not been able to fine tune this aspect of human behaviour? Are fear and panic learned responses ? Would the natural human response be different for a person who has never seen the conventional human panicky behaviour ?
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2 comments:
Hmm.. You have me thinking on this one. Let me give this a shot.
Fear can also lead to getting petrified (vs panic). IMHO this is the most counter-intuitive as the brain just switches off, not wanting to deal with the situation at hand. On the contrary, panic gets the mind agitated into the 'survival' mode. The blood rush, the racing thoughts, the adrenaline - all work towards a quick resolution of the problem. In this state of mind, I've seen lateral thinking, creativity and resourcefulness take over the mental processes. Mostly, when responsiveness is the call of the hour, the brain shifts to top-gear.
Panic - if justified - is productive. Methinks so.
Turning to stone - now that's a different story.
Have a nice weekend!
Psst: thanks for appreciating the humble cake. :)
I think feelings that have not evolved into more 'fit' human reactions have given rise to a lot of irrational behaviour such as the invention of God. That was the first weakness of mankind. To invent something out of thin air to deal with the feeling of being petrified...
Another way of looking at fear is as a natural act of survival. It is necessary for the body to feel fear... increase adrenalin and 'propel' it into quick action. The feeling of panic is what makes humans fit enough for survival.
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