Below you will find a list of fears. Fears are those things which alert us to the presence of danger, rather it be physical or psychological. Sometimes those dangers are real. Other times they are only perceived to be true. The primary causes of fear include trauma, biology, environmental factors, manipulation, overprotective parenting, and social factors.

Please note that fears are different than phobias. Phobias are fears that have become extreme enough to interfere with a person’s quality of life.  Since phobias require professional treatment they will not be addressed herein.

Sigmund Freud divided the human personality into three parts, the id, ego and superego.  The id deals with instinctive or primitive urges and is controlled entirely by the subconscious.  The ego deals with real world actions and is controlled mostly by the conscious mind.  The superego deals with the imposition of morals by society. It is controlled by both the subconscious and conscious.  The superego is the main source for the feeling of guilt. 

The biology of fear is far too complex to be discussed in this section.  However, the four responses to a perceived danger are: attack, run, analyze, and hide.  This seems incredibly consistent with the four personality types.  But there are insufficient scientific studies to prove that connection.  

If you’re looking for a more in-depth study check out Adolphs, Ralph (2013) The Biology of Fear, Current Biology 23, R79-R93. 

The following is a list of some of the more common fears.  Click on one that is important to you, a friend, or a loved one in order to learn more.