Abstract
Fear is the child of a mythological act of infidelity. Venus, goddess of love, was not what we would call the perfect wife to her husband Vulcan, the god of fire, who was hardly pleased with her dallying about. Her most renowned affair was with Mars, the god of war, to whom she bore no fewer than five children: Cupid, Anteros, Harmony, Phobos, and Deimos. Cupid was the god of erotic love. Anteros, the god of requited love (less well known than his brother because, unfortunately, his touch is less frequent). Harmony personified unity. And, lastly, the sons who accompanied their father into battle: Phobos, whose name means “fear,” and thus the term phobia; and Deimos, who stood for dread.1 So, according to mythology, which sought to provide an explanation for human needs, fear descends from the union between Love and War.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Notes
Martin, R. (1996): Diccionario de la mitología griega y romana. Madrid: Espasa de Bolsillo.
Walk, R.D. and Gibson, E.J. (1961): “A Comparative and Analytical Study of Visual Depth Perception,” Psychological Monographs, 75, 519.
Marks, I (1991): Miedos, fobias y rituales: Los mecanismos de la ansiedad. Barcelona: Martínez Roca.
Gallagher, M. (2004): Handbook of Psychology. Book online.
Daniel Goleman and Mario Alonso Puig describe the relationship between the brain and emotions. Goleman, D. (1996): Inteligencia emocional. Barcelona: Kairós.
Alonso Puig, Mario (2004): Madera de Líder. Barcelona: Empresa Activa.
Paul McLean, director of Laboratory for Brain Evolution and Behavior in California, proposes that we have three superimposed neuronal systems resulting from our evolutionary process: reptilian brain, limbic brain, and rational brain or neocortex. The reptilian, or encephalic stem, is the oldest and is responsible for certain patterns of aggression, our instinct to defend our territory, and basic sexual instincts. The second neuronal system, the limbic, which we share with other mammals, houses the amygdala. The neocortex is what differentiates us from all other animals. Language, creativity, and artistic thought are developed there. But the neocortex does not act like a “lone ranger,” rather it works in conjunction with the rest of the brain, especially with the amygdala. And we are fortunate that it is that way. Otherwise, mothers would not feel bonds with their children. The offspring of animals without a neocortex, such as snakes, have to hide from their mother so that they are not eaten. In this sense the relationship is positive. But it has other activities which are not so beneficial: It can short-circuit our talent, especially, when we are afraid. MacLean, P.D. (1990): The Triune Brain in Evolution: Role in Paleocerebral Functions. New York: Plenum Press.
Ledoux, J. (2002): Synaptic Self. How Our Brains Become Who We Are. New York: Viking.
Selye, H. (1975): Tensión sin angustia. Madrid: Guadarrama.
Sapolsky, R.M. (1995): ¿Por qué las cebras no tienen úlcera? La guía del estrés. Madrid: Alianza.
Riftin, Jeremy: “La vida a la velocidad de la luz: ¿Estamos mejor?,” http://usuarios.lycos.es/politicasnet/articulos/vidaluz.htm (accessed December 2004).
Gray, A. (1971): La psicología del miedo, Madrid: Ediciones Guadarrama.
Ekman, P., Davidson, R.J., and Friesen, W.V. (1990): “Duchenne’s smile: Emotional Expression and Brain Physiology II,” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 58: 342–353.
It seems that there is no consensus regarding basic emotions, with each author proposing his or her own theory. Reeve, J. (1994): Motivación y emoción. Madrid. Mc Graw-Hill.
Damasio, A. (1996): El error de Descartes. Barcelona: Crítica.
Copyright information
© 2006 Pilar Jericó
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Jericó, P. (2006). Fear under the Microscope. In: No Fear. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-230-23366-9_1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-230-23366-9_1
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-36846-4
Online ISBN: 978-0-230-23366-9
eBook Packages: Palgrave Business & Management CollectionBusiness and Management (R0)