The Functions of Fear. Imagine a life without fear. You could go into an exam for which you had not studied feeling confident.
You could walk through the most wicked neighborhood on the darkest night feeling secure and safe. Sound nice?
As hard as it may be to believe, a life without fear could be far more dangerous than Kelly's trapeze act.
Fear is important in our lives; it leads us to avoid objects and situations that are dangerous.
For example, people who cannot swim may fear jumping into deep water.
This fear leads them to refrain from this life-threatening activity.
Fear also prepares the body for action.
The heart rate increases, muscles tense, digestive functions slow, and epinephrine pours into the bloodstream when we face the object of our fear.
These physiological changes enable us to act quickly and decisively.