Is Fear Contagious and Why Do We Adopt Other People's Panic 0 14

Why Humans Need Fear

Fear is one of the oldest protective mechanisms. It activates in the face of threats to life and health and helps ensure survival. When one person notices danger and becomes frightened, those around them respond to their state, even without directly seeing the threat. This gives the group a chance to escape. From an evolutionary perspective, fear must be contagious — this is what increased the species' survival rate.

When we see or feel someone else's fear, the amygdala — the center for processing threats — activates in the brain. The signal is then sent to the hippocampus and the nervous system, causing an adrenaline rush. Breathing accelerates, pulse quickens — the “fight or flight” response is triggered.

Why We Copy Other People's Fear

Emotions are inherently social. People constantly read each other's states and unconsciously reflect them. Research shows: — it is enough to observe a frightened person to feel fear oneself; — even if frightened faces flash by too quickly for conscious perception, the amygdala still reacts.

This means that fear can be transmitted subconsciously, without our understanding of the reasons for anxiety.

Such behavior is also characteristic of animals. For example, rats freeze in terror upon hearing distress signals from other individuals. In humans, vision and hearing play a leading role, while in animals, smell is also involved.

Can We Smell Fear?

For a long time, it was believed that humans cannot detect the “smell of fear” since we lack a specialized organ for perceiving pheromones. However, modern research shows that chemical signals released by the body during intense stress can still influence those around us.

In one experiment, scientists compared the sweat of people before parachuting and the sweat of people after regular physical exertion. When participants sniffed samples of “stress sweat,” increased activity in the amygdala was recorded. This means the brain reacted to fear at an unconscious level.

Why Some Are More Affected by Fear Than Others

Although the basic mechanisms are the same for everyone, the reaction to someone else's panic can vary greatly. Factors influencing this include: — genetics; — personal experience; — level of empathy; — knowledge and professional training.

Empathetic people are more likely to adopt the emotions of those around them, including fear. Those with experience and understanding of the situation (for example, a specialist who knows that the threat is not dangerous) can remain calm even in a panicking crowd.

There is also evidence that children of people who have experienced wars and disasters may be biologically more sensitive to danger — and, consequently, to others' fear.

Conclusion

Fear is indeed contagious — and this is part of our evolutionary heritage. It helps avoid real threats, but in modern life, it often spreads in situations where there is no danger: during job interviews, public speaking, in the news, or on social media. Understanding this mechanism helps prevent succumbing to panic and passing it on.