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We are born with only two innate fears: falling and loud sounds. All other fears are learned behaviors, including a fear of the dark. Fears can be influenced by environment, culture, and association, but can be overcome through repeated exposure.
Scientists have established that we come into this world with only two innate fears: the fear of falling and the fear of loud sounds. All other fears constitute learned behaviors, perhaps explaining why some people fear snakes and spiders and others don’t. So the short answer is that being afraid of the dark is a learned fear, rather than an innate one. The researchers observed that a fear of falling is universal in animals and human children, indicating that it is a necessary survival instinct for many species. And when you hear a loud sound, your “acoustic start reflex” kicks in and you’re likely faced with a fight or flight decision. If the sound is loud enough, you usually duck. “That circuit is innate,” explains Seth Norrholm, a neuroscientist at Emory University.
Nothing to fear here:
Many fears are influenced by environment and culture. A child isn’t automatically afraid of spiders, but they often take cues from their fearful parents.
Fears can also develop through association. A soldier who has experienced the destruction of an IED can relive that fear when faced with similar situations at home.
People can overcome some fears through repeated exposure to them, such as overcoming a fear of flying by experiencing safe and successful flights. Often people fear what they don’t understand.
