Blogpost 8: Fear Can Be Inherited

Do you have the same fear like your father? Like your father is scared of a flying cockroach and he don't want to be alone? Did you ask your father if he has the same fear like you? Because the fears of your father might be transferred to you from the beginning. Along with your physical appearance that you get in your parents, fear can also be transmitted too. Let me give you an explanation about this.

I've read an article entitled The smell of fear can be inherited, scientists prove by Steve Connor from the website www.independent.co.uk.

Scientist have already proven that fear can be pass on by a father to his child through sperm. Mice has been experimented that they can be trained to connect a smell to a frightened memory and this can be transfer through generations by a changes of chemical to the sperm of the father. This has build a question whether it would be the same to us humans. Example of this is if you have experience something that is psychologically traumatic, you can pass this kind of where you are involved in their sperm to the child. Researchers highlighted or give importance to this because they know that there's a possibility that something might be the same in people. The discoveries have add some support to a theory known as  "inheritance of acquired characteristics" spread by Jean Baptise Lamarck in the 18th century. Lamarck suggested that a creature can transfer physical attribute they developed throughout their existence to their child or offspring.  This idea was replaced by the theory of natural selection of Charles Darwin which was assisted by the genes when it was discovered and the inheritance of Mendelian. The current study, however, prove that the theory of Lamarck may exist in the nature because of the result in the influences of environment that affects directly to the changes of an organism's DNA. The same as the studies in female mice, showed that the same procedure can also happen in the egg cells but it is more hard to understand the possibilities.

Connor said to his article that "The biggest interpretation of the research, if it holds up across mammals, is that it may be possible for certain traits such as the fearful experience of a parent to be transmitted to subsequent generations." This means that it would be possible for our parents to transfer their fears in life through the next generations. This is possible because most of our parents have the same fear like us. 

The second article I've read entitled Fear can be inherited by Laura Sanders from the website www.sciencenews.org.

She said that the color of our eyes or dimples can be passed by our parents. Maybe we have the same color like our mother or father. The experiment through the mice, turn out to be that a traumatic experience from our life can be passed to the next generation. The parents of the mouse have a shock in smelling the scent of a flower, but why is it that their children have a sign of fear like this too even though they have never smelled it? Studies said that sperm alone can transfer a fear of message to someone.

Sanders said to her article that "Ancestral experience could be an underappreciated influence on animals and people's brains and behaviors". This means that our ancestors can have influenced by the behavior in our society.

It would be better if there are more researchers to studies this topic. But if I learn that my fears are also same with my parents, It would be a good discovery for myself because I can ask my parents on how to overcome this. 

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Blogpost 7: Trypophobia

Your friend ask you to type trypophobia in google images and what did you see? What's your reaction? For you, maybe it is disgusting because of the holes but some it's not. Maybe you are imagining that the holes you see are eyes that are looking to you. You might be experiencing this when you see something that has a holes on an object and you can feel itchiness on your entire body. You can react to it and 2 ways, it might be you're going to destroy it or you will be dizzy when you see those holes. In a simple definition, trypophobia is the fear of shapes. 

I have read an article entitled "Are you afraid of holes?" by William Skaggs from the website www.scientificamerican.com. He discussed about what trypophobia really means. 

This phobia started in 2000s and many of netizens are joined in their common dislikes to picture that have many holes and small holes such as the sponge and the beehive. But now, researchers have found a proof of why it is spreading and why are we afraid of this things. It begins with the huge amount of people who share the images that has a holes in it and many people notice that this pictures will have a big reaction to others that can cause them to nauseate because of the holes. 

Two psychologists named Geoff Cole and Arnold Wilkins studied about the phenomenon. They show an image of a lotus seed head to adults who are 18-55 years old. The reaction of the people who saw the picture is that it's is uncomfortable and they are disgusted about what they saw. Geoff and Arnold said that the reason why we are repulsive to it is because of the visual structure of an image. They examined the set of disgusting images and they found out that the most unpleasant pictures have a mathematical shape that includes small, different features such as the dots and stripes. This pattern can be seen in the skin color of many species of threatening animals and according to studies, most people think about this as uncomfortable to look at. The characteristics of this explains the reasons why we are uncomfortable of the small holes in an image but Wilkins said that there is something more that is needed to explain the disgustion of a person who quickly responded to it. Those who are experiencing the fear of holes said that whenever they see a bunch of holes their skin crawl and the holes in the picture has effect to us. Maybe the fear of holes is the dislike of scars and sores, an advance trait that helped our ancestors keep away from the germs and disease. 

Skaggs said to his article that "For almost a decade "trypophobia," literally "fear of holes," was nothing more than an Internet phenomenon." This is true because it spreads in the social networking sites and I think we will not be afraid of this if there's no one share this to others. Additionally to this is I think the comments of this images has effect to our view of it. 


Do you know why are you disgusted with holes? Or the images that is related to trypophobia? I have read another article entitled Is trypophobia a real phobia? by Jennifer Abbasi from the website www.popsci.com. 

We are not alone that are encountering this fears. This fear is experienced by many people around the world and by just seeing a small holes, their hair crawls. A psychologist named Antony said that he was not suprised to hear that many people have extreme fear to the holes because all of us can be afraid of anything. The reasons why we are experiencing this are because of traumatic experience that happened in the past like your are bitten by a dog that leads you to be afraid of dogs, the things we learned by observing like watching others be afraid of darkness, instruction and information that leads us to be afraid of being alone because of the horror movies that we watched. Some people just begun to be afraid of holes because in facebook, the image of holes became a trend and when they see the picture, they didn't recognize it until they saw the comments from it. 

Abbasi said to her article that "The term will need to be used for years and have multiple petitions and scholarly references before the dictionary accepts it." This means that tyrophobia would be in the dictionary if this fear become popular in the world, I mean that It would be common and known by everyone.

Tyrophobia is just an illusion to us. This spread because of the image that have been shared by everyone. You learn that you're afraid of this because of the appearance of something. Maybe were scared of holes because something in the past has happen to us or maybe since birth, were afraid of it already. 
  

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Blogpost 6: Social Phobia

Are you afraid of being judged by someone? seeing you negatively? Then you might have a phobia called the Social Phobia. You're using your phone pretending that you're doing something even you don't or listening to music because you are avoiding to have a communication with others. Over apologizing to someone even you just commit mistake to him/her. When you are ask to speak in front then you're shaking because you're thinking about what will the audience will think about you. Eating to a fastfood restaurant alone because you don't want to stay to a place where someone can see you and ask you if why you are alone. That's the situations you can experience when you are facing this kind of phobia. But what is the real meaning of social phobia? 

I have read an article entitled What is Social Anxiety? by Thomas A. Richards from the website www.socialanxietyinstitute.org. 

Many of us or most of us have this phobia. We don't want to be judge by other people and being seen or evaluated as negatively that will lead us to avoid them. We're afraid to be humiliated because we don't want to have a bad image to others. This is common to someone who likes to be alone and don't want to socialize with other people. This is because when you experience it, you would feel bad about it and you will think to yourself that you're a something that a person doesn't want to be included to a group. You're worry that you will be looked down by other people. There's a sensations in our bodies too like we're sweating, blushing, our breath is shortening and lastly shaking. Lots of people around the world are suffering from this traumatic condition because they know that when a day will come again, they will still suffer and experience this thing and it's like a cycle that will never end maybe in highschool or elementary days. Thomas Richards has discussed also about the two social anxieties. The first one is the specific social anxiety which means afraid in speaking in front of many people or groups and the second one is the generalized social anxiety which means of being uncomfortable in many situations. This generalized social anxiety is more common to people because there are many people who are suffering from depression, blaming themself, embarassment and worry about something that has to do with you.

Thomas Richard said to his article that "Getting over social anxiety disorder is not an easy task, nor is it a difficult one. Many thousands of people have already done it". Yes it is not an easy task because I myself have experienced this too. This is difficult especially if you know that from the starting until the end, you're always alone and doesn't have a true friend. You're always feel uncomfortable to others and you will be conscious about what you are doing. This phobia can end by just seeking a psychologist who can understand the social phobia completely. Also remember, just wait because great things comes to a person who can wait. Maybe not now, but someday you can seek the happiness you want. This is just a challenge only, stay strong and face it. 

Being laughed at by many people is a pain that we can't explain. I've read an article entitled Afraid Of Being Laughed at? You're Far From Alone by Susan Krauss Whitbourne from the website www.psychologytoday.com. 

Most of us have encountered being laughed by our classmates, friends, and certain family member. Laughing with friends is an enjoyable part in our life because it let our problems be forgotten. But sometimes, most of them still continually joke about you that you know you're hurting already. Treating us by means of teasing or anything that destroys our image can lead us to be afraid of going to that situation again. We will ask ourselves of what personalities you have that are wrong or not liked by others. The fear of being shame to yourself in doing your tasks can take you to a disorder called social phobia. It damages our happiness. When someone we don't know laugh at us, it might be possible that someone you know talk about your personality because a stranger doesn't know you so why do he/she laughs at you right? And yes, it is very long for us to recover being laughed at and the tendency is you would think that it will be better if you'll be alone and don't have friends.

Susan Krauss said to her article that "If you want to maximize your own fulfillment, take stock of your own fear of being made fun of." This means that if you really want to remove this part of yours, there's still an option to change. To change is to give an efforts to it and just be yourself because the one who are making fun of you will also feel the pain in the future. 

We don't want to be judged especially to the people who knows us. But no matter what happens, don't give up. Social phobia is only a challenger for us. This will not be forever. Remember, judging someone is judging yourself. 

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Blogpost 5: Fear and How It Works To Our Brain

Did you ever ask yourself if why are you afraid of something? Do you know where it came from and why? Example of this are when you are in the outside around early in the morning and walking to a dark place. Then you feel that something is following you and your breathing goes up. Your heart is beating very fast because of what you feel and what you think. Then minutes later you look back and you see that it's just a cat walking behind you. There is no danger at all. But why do you react instantly to that situation? What is fear for us? 

I have read an article entitled How scientist discovered the "fear center" of the brain by Robert T. Gonzalez from the website www.io9.com. He discussed about how does our brain process fear? 

Fear is common to us. We can know if a person is afraid of something by their facial expressions, voice and their actions. But why do we react to something instantly? In our brain, many parts of it plays a role in the process of fear and the most important part of it is the amygdalae which is a pair of almond shaped clusters of neurons located in our medial temporal lobes. It detects whether there's a possible danger in a situation. This plays a necessary part in processing the signals of the brain to perceive and experience fear. A researcher named Lawrence Weiskrantz said that if we remove our amygdalae, it will lead to the disapperance of the fear. When the process of removing amygdalae is occuring, there's a possible that our fibers of passage that connects other region in our brain may damaged. Our amygdalae is responsible to receive the main inputs from our visual, somatosensory cortices and auditory, while the hypothalamus, that produce hormones are the primary output. The process would of how fear works is to join the threat by the sensory stimuli to the fight or flight response, beginning by the releasing of hormones activated by the amygdalae by the hypothalamus. 



Gonzalez said to his article that "We can sense it in the voices and actions of our friends and loved ones, and even recognize it in the facial expressions of complete strangers." This is true because If I'm afraid of something that is currently happening, you can feel me if I'm afraid of something and that goes with you too, I can sense if your afraid of something by your voice and facial expression.

The next article I have read entitled Searching the Brain for the Roots of Fear by Joseph Ledoux from the website www.opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com discussed about the roots of our fears. 

He said to his article that difference between anxiety and fear is important to us in the task of analyzing and curing of anxiety disorders that affects many people. Fear, for scientist is our negative emotion initiated by the existence of stimulus (response) that has likely to cause hurt and anxiety. Our anxiety is defined by unpredictablility. It is greatly expand by our ability to imagine what will happen next or in the future. With imagination, sometimes it helps us to have a good reaction of what will happen next and a possibility to make the impossible possible. This two things can sometimes helps us to manage our challenges in life. 

Joseph Ledoux says that "Animal models are giving us new clues about how to treat problems of fear and anxiety in humans." Sometimes in our life, we are encountering animals that we most afraid of like snakes, dogs, rat and spiders. But this tells us how we can react or deal with this things can also helps us to face our fears besides animals in our life. 

Fear is normal to us. Whatever our fears are, we must know how to face it and how to change it. This is just are thoughts. But if you know that fear is happening to you right know, you must stay calm to think and act to the situation.

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Blogpost 4: Fear of Public Speaking

Whenever we hear the word "Public Speaking" we instantly react to it and become nervous even though you just heard of it. Most of the people who have fear of public speaking or what we call glossophobia are the shy type kind of person. Even me are afraid of public speaking because in my subject whenever I need to deliver a speech, I'm shaking and sometimes I don't know what am I saying already. The reason is I'm not comfortable to speak and I'm asking myself if how will the audience going to react for my speech and I'm thinking that maybe they are getting boring or whatsoever. Fear of public speaking is ranking up than the fear of death. 

I have read an article entitled Why you're scared of public speaking and How to overcome it by Mais Gousous from the website www.wamda.com. 

Whatever we feel about speaking in front when you are a student or working man, we must still do it because something depends there and a good thing will be exchange. Some people who are afraid of public speaking doesn't get a job with a public speaking in it. That's why for me fears prevents us from our dreams. Fear of rejection is related to this fear because according to psychologists, we're afraid to be ashamed and be judged and we're afraid to be left behind and to protect ourself alone. We must plan before we deliver a speech so that we can't think about the reaction of the audience. Figure out the things that can go wrong when you're delivering your speech. Practice and practice more until you succeed but you must be confident about what you're saying so that you can deliver your speech completely and organized. When you are in the day of delivering your speech, you must not forget to grab the attention of the audience so they will listen to you and have a good impression to you.

Mais Gousous said to her article that "Your success is determined a great deal by your ability to communicate effectively." This is true because example of this is when you're boss is impressed by what you delivered, it can lead you to success or promotion. You can express who you really are by communicating with many people and in the near future or now in present, delivering a speech is needed and this will help you too also for a good future.

I have read another article entitled How to Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking by Stephen Key from the website www.entrepreneur.com. He discussed in his article about tips on how we can hit the stage. 

We should love our topic. Being passionate about it is something good for yourself because when your words came from your heart, you can give many information about your chosen topic. The audience will also listen to you because they will or can know that your loving what you're saying. Have a good smile when you're facing the audience so you can get their attention and they will appreciate it. Remember that nonverbal communication is one of the most important thing to do when we are delivering our speech. Also you can grab their attention if you share something personal to them that is related to your topic. Lastly we must not be a lecturer, but a storyteller. Have a speech that can inspire many people and tell others what you have spoken about. 

I love what Stephen Key said to his article, "Your fear of public speaking probably stems from childhood. But we grow up. And I really do believe most people want others to succeed. So find your voice and tell your story". This means that we have many choices in life. But it's up to us if we will do our best to be strong to accept the challenge that public speaking given to us. Let's do our best to deliver a good speech by having faith from the right ones. If you dont have confidence speaking in front, just think of your audience as your bestfriends.

We may all be afraid to speak in front but we can practice to be perfect. Don't give up and be strong to face the fear of public speaking. The more you do it and love it, the more you're going to succeed. Your voice can change other people lives. So don't be afraid and rise to tell others your story! 

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Blogpost 3: Why Are We Afraid of Spiders?

Spiders can be seen anywhere in the world. Large or small, it doesn't matter. Spiders are spiders. Whenever we see them, we stare at them and run. There are many arachnophobic in the world, but do we know why we are afraid of this creatures? The more we are scared in a spider, the bigger we'll be conscious about it.

I have read an article entitled The shape of fear. Why spiders scares us so much: Humans are hardwired to fear their angular legs and unpredictability by Tamara Cohen from the website www.dailymail.co.uk

When we are in the comfort room and we saw a spider in the wall, the fear initiates. Even though there's a very small number of spiders that are poisonous, it is calculated that many of us in the world are arachnophobics. Scientists believe that we are scared of this because of their physical appearance and how they move. A psychology professor named Jon May said that their legs, colors and the certainty that they move unpredictable are the reasons why we are afraid to them. May said that studies prove that people are likely to dislike an angular shape and they would like more the curved ones. They also want the creatures that they know they understand. Professor May also added that like in many other phobias, when this establish in our mind, seeing spiders in the picture might also scares us. But why do we like butterflies than spiders? Maybe because of the color. Butterflies has a positive and spiders have a negative like the black ones. We are also quick to detect the things that are moving in the corner and our eyes immediately detect it. When we have arachnophobia, we might tell to someone that we saw a big spider even it is not and we will also tell them that we saw a spider crawling to someone's mouth which spider doesn't actually do. This fear are likely to start when we are children and if we experience it to our home.

"Arachnophobics can deal with their fears by trying to sympathise with the insects and learn about them." says Cohen. This is true because if we know what type of spider it is or what is the behavior of it, maybe it will lessen our fear to them because we know what to expect or not already.

The second article I've read entitled Why Are We Afraid Of Spiders? by Chris Buddle from the website www.iflscience.com.

There are many people here in our world who have arachnophobes, but do they know why they fear them? Can they take action to this fear? Psychologists thinks that a reason why a person is afraid of spider (arachnids) is because of the direct encountered with them. This view of arachnophobia is also known as the "conditioning" A guy named Graham Davey did a research to know more about this view. He conducted a survey to 118 students about the arachnophobia. 75% of the students that has been reviewed by Davey were lightly and badly afraid of spiders and most of it were female. This has effect to their family too because those students said that they have the same fear with their family member. The suprising thing that Davey found out is that arachnophobia was not the result of the spider trauma, which means that there's no support to the conditioning view. Then why are we scared of to this spiders? Yes, it is sure that the one reason why we're afraid of spiders is because they might bite us. But Davey look at the matter and the mainly cause of why we are frightened about it is because of their movements and their scary legs. He also said that for those who are afraid of spiders, just share or browse a picture of spiders so they would be more less scared to it because people can't easily identify it consciously.

Buddle said to his article that "Arachnophobia is inheritable" because there's a possibility that you have the same fear with your mother or father. So this means that arachnophobia is here to stay with us but it doesn't mean that we can lessen it.

In my conclusion, it would be better if we experience it more and we browse some images it so that we can know what to expect or not. Spiders are really terrifying, but it doesn't mean that were going to stay of being afraid of spiders, we must take action and do something about it.

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