This paper reflects the research and thoughts of a student at
the time the paper was written for a course at Bryn Mawr
College. Like other materials on Serendip, it is not intended to
be "authoritative" but rather to help others further develop
their own explorations. Web links were active as of the time the
paper was posted but are not updated. 2006 Second Web Paper How
can fear have such a strong hold on an individual? Fear can be
seen as an emotion that can protect humans or animals from
potential danger (1). Fear can also be seen as a feeling of
uneasiness and hypervigilance. Experience and culture play a
role in our feelings because they teach us what to fear in the
world around us. Perhaps this is why people are
disproportionately afraid of some things but can ignore others.
Fear can be a healthy emotion because it keeps us on alert and
watchful for possible threats. Death, I think is safe to say, is
our most basic fear. I believe this because the fear of death
functions to make us alert in dangerous si