<p>Some scientists will say that a fear of heights (and spiders, snakes, and the dark) are innate, i.e. that we are born with them because they confer an evolutionary advantage. In other words, a fear of heights tends to prevent falls, and a fear of snakes tends to prevent snake bites. We tend to have little control regarding when these fears arise.</p>
<p>However, the <em>amount</em> of fear/anxiety we feel for any given thing or situation can be modulated. For example, many therapists use a strategy called &quot;exposure therapy,&quot; exposing the patient to the feared thing or situation repeatedly, in a safe manner, which typically results in a reduction in the intensity of the anxiety response. Another example: when people do regular physical exercise, many studies show that their mood rises and they react less strongly to negative events. They even feel less physical pain when injured (compared to sedentary adults). There are many other strategies one can use to modulate painful feelings, which can be found in the book of Sudism (sudism.org). EDIT (Dec 14 2019): Sudism is a philosophy, not a science, owing to the fact that it is not currently possible to precisely measure positive and negative affect (i.e. our feelings of pleasure and pain). Take care.</p>
<p>EDIT (Dec 14 2019) -- Here are some supporting references that illustrate that (A) exposure therapy is beneficial for reducing anxiety, that (B) physical exercise is beneficial for reducing physical pain, and that (C) certain fears are innate:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>From this meta-analysis: <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Thomas_Parsons3/publication/6120330_Parsons_TD_Rizzo_AA_Affective_outcomes_of_virtual_reality_exposure_therapy_for_anxiety_and_specific_phobias_a_meta_analysis_J_Behav_Ther_Exp_Psychiatry_39_250-261/links/09e41513528410d546000000.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Parsons, Thomas &amp; Rizzo, Albert. (2008). Affective outcomes of virtual reality exposure therapy for anxiety and specific phobias: A meta-analysis. Journal of behavior therapy and experimental psychiatry. 39. 250-61. 10.1016/j.jbtep.2007.07.007</a>.</p>
<p>&quot;A good deal of research has shown that exposure therapy is effective for reducing negative affective symptoms (Rothbaum &amp; Schwartz, 2002).&quot;</p>
</li>
<li><p>From this review of literature on exposure therapy: <a href="http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/anxiety/exposure-therapy-anxiety-disorders" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Johanna S. Kaplan, PhD and David F. Tolin, PhD. (Sep 2011). Exposure Therapy for Anxiety Disorders. Psychiatric Times.</a></p>
<p>&quot;Over a quarter of the people in the US population will have an anxiety disorder sometime during their lifetime. It is well established that exposure-based behavior therapies are effective treatments for these disorders; unfortunately, only a small percentage of patients are treated with exposure therapy.&quot;</p>
</li>
<li><p>From this study: <a href="http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/abs/10.1139/apnm-2013-0481#.VYB6i0bKCJM" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Einat Kodesh &amp; Irit Weissman-Fogel. Exercise-induced hypoalgesia – interval versus continuous mode. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 2014, 39(7): 829-834, 10.1139/apnm-2013-0481</a>.</p>
<p>&quot;In conclusion, interval exercise (85% HRR) has analgesic effects on experimental pain perception. This, in addition to its cardiovascular, muscular, and metabolic advantages may promote its inclusion in pain management programs.&quot;</p>
</li>
<li><p>From this <a href="https://www.cbs.mpg.de/Fear-of-spiders-and-snakes-is-deeply-embedded-in-us" rel="nofollow noreferrer">2017 press release from the Max Planck Society</a> on recent research comparing infants' reactions to various stimuli (from benign fish and flowers to non-benign snakes and spiders):</p>
<p>&quot;We conclude that fear of snakes and spiders is of evolutionary origin. Similar to primates, mechanisms in our brains enable us to identify objects as 'spider’ or 'snake’ and to react to them very fast.&quot;</p>
</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-13T11:01:51.857Z
Welcome to Psychology.SE. Can you please cite some example papers on the innate nature of fear, the effects of exposure therapy and the claim that felling of physical pain can be lessened with rising mood as a result of physical exercise?
Chris Rogers
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-14T14:13:33.060Z
Thank you for the constructive criticisms and suggestions. I have updated my answer accordingly by adding supporting references. I've also clarified that sudism is a philosophy, not a science, for the simple reason that there are no instruments to precisely measure subjective affect (i.e. pleasant or unpleasant sensations, whether physical, emotional, or otherwise).
Pi Da
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-13T04:12:18.253Z
2019-12-14T14:08:42.577Z
2020-06-17T09:55:31.633Z
Pi Da
<p>For example, one of my friend has fear of heights, even if there is a strong glass window and no reason for him to fall off. He is even aware and admits his fear is irrational.</p>

<p>Many may say it’s in subconscious mind or neurologically left brain, in that case, can you let me know experiments(better if I can do it myself) , research paper and scientific resources that explains this phenomenon in details.</p>

<p>Is there no way to communicate to this part of brain? Does it not follow rationality? </p>

<p>Does philosophical perspective helps? As some of spiritual/non-spiritual thinker may claim? </p>

<p><strong>Edit</strong>: 
Reference: <a href="https://acmelab.yale.edu/sites/default/files/our_unconscious_mind.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://acmelab.yale.edu/sites/default/files/our_unconscious_mind.pdf</a> ”Research has recently brought to light just how profoundly our unconscious mind shapes our day-to-day interactions“</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-01T12:01:29.603Z
Welcome to Psychology.SE. What makes you believe that *"Many may say it’s in subconscious mind or neurologically left brain"*? Please help us to help you and [edit] your question to provide more information on what you have read on this subject, what made you ask this question, and any problems you are having understanding your research. If you found nothing, what did you Google? This helps to provide an answer which will be more helpful.
Chris Rogers
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-03T18:50:23.710Z
_"If not, then how placebo effect works?"_ How is this related to your question? Regardless, I recommend against asking follow-up questions which _presume_ an answer to your original question. Therefore, this is best edited out.
Steven Jeuris
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-14T15:00:36.407Z
Good advice, removed question on ‘placebo effect’ and added one reference. Will add more.
old-monk
<depression><philosophy-of-mind><anxiety><theory-of-mind><mental-illness>
why we failed to convince our own mind by reasoning and rational arguments over mental illness like depression, anxiety, phobia?
old-monk
# why we failed to convince our own mind by reasoning and rational arguments over mental illness like depression, anxiety, phobia?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-11-29)

For example, one of my friend has fear of heights, even if there is a strong glass window and no reason for him to fall off. He is even aware and admits his fear is irrational.

Many may say it’s in subconscious mind or neurologically left brain, in that case, can you let me know experiments(better if I can do it myself) , research paper and scientific resources that explains this phenomenon in details.

Is there no way to communicate to this part of brain? Does it not follow rationality?

Does philosophical perspective helps? As some of spiritual/non-spiritual thinker may claim?

**Edit**:
Reference: <https://acmelab.yale.edu/sites/default/files/our_unconscious_mind.pdf> ”Research has recently brought to light just how profoundly our unconscious mind shapes our day-to-day interactions“

**Tags:** depression, philosophy-of-mind, anxiety, theory-of-mind, mental-illness

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Welcome to Psychology.SE. What makes you believe that *"Many may say it’s in subconscious mind or neurologically left brain"*? Please help us to help you and [edit] your question to provide more information on what you have read on this subject, what made you ask this question, and any problems you are having understanding your research. If you found nothing, what did you Google? This helps to provide an answer which will be more helpful.  
> **username_2**: _"If not, then how placebo effect works?"_ How is this related to your question? Regardless, I recommend against asking follow-up questions which _presume_ an answer to your original question. Therefore, this is best edited out.  
> **username_0**: Good advice, removed question on ‘placebo effect’ and added one reference. Will add more.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2019-12-13. Score: 1

Some scientists will say that a fear of heights (and spiders, snakes, and the dark) are innate, i.e. that we are born with them because they confer an evolutionary advantage. In other words, a fear of heights tends to prevent falls, and a fear of snakes tends to prevent snake bites. We tend to have little control regarding when these fears arise.

However, the *amount* of fear/anxiety we feel for any given thing or situation can be modulated. For example, many therapists use a strategy called "exposure therapy," exposing the patient to the feared thing or situation repeatedly, in a safe manner, which typically results in a reduction in the intensity of the anxiety response. Another example: when people do regular physical exercise, many studies show that their mood rises and they react less strongly to negative events. They even feel less physical pain when injured (compared to sedentary adults). There are many other strategies one can use to modulate painful feelings, which can be found in the book of Sudism (sudism.org). EDIT (Dec 14 2019): Sudism is a philosophy, not a science, owing to the fact that it is not currently possible to precisely measure positive and negative affect (i.e. our feelings of pleasure and pain). Take care.

EDIT (Dec 14 2019) -- Here are some supporting references that illustrate that (A) exposure therapy is beneficial for reducing anxiety, that (B) physical exercise is beneficial for reducing physical pain, and that (C) certain fears are innate:

* From this meta-analysis: [Parsons, Thomas & Rizzo, Albert. (2008). Affective outcomes of virtual reality exposure therapy for anxiety and specific phobias: A meta-analysis. Journal of behavior therapy and experimental psychiatry. 39. 250-61. 10.1016/j.jbtep.2007.07.007](https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Thomas_Parsons3/publication/6120330_Parsons_TD_Rizzo_AA_Affective_outcomes_of_virtual_reality_exposure_therapy_for_anxiety_and_specific_phobias_a_meta_analysis_J_Behav_Ther_Exp_Psychiatry_39_250-261/links/09e41513528410d546000000.pdf).

  "A good deal of research has shown that exposure therapy is effective for reducing negative affective symptoms (Rothbaum & Schwartz, 2002)."
* From this review of literature on exposure therapy: [Johanna S. Kaplan, PhD and David F. Tolin, PhD. (Sep 2011). Exposure Therapy for Anxiety Disorders. Psychiatric Times.](http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/anxiety/exposure-therapy-anxiety-disorders)

  "Over a quarter of the people in the US population will have an anxiety disorder sometime during their lifetime. It is well established that exposure-based behavior therapies are effective treatments for these disorders; unfortunately, only a small percentage of patients are treated with exposure therapy."
* From this study: [Einat Kodesh & Irit Weissman-Fogel. Exercise-induced hypoalgesia – interval versus continuous mode. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 2014, 39(7): 829-834, 10.1139/apnm-2013-0481](http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/abs/10.1139/apnm-2013-0481#.VYB6i0bKCJM).

  "In conclusion, interval exercise (85% HRR) has analgesic effects on experimental pain perception. This, in addition to its cardiovascular, muscular, and metabolic advantages may promote its inclusion in pain management programs."
* From this [2017 press release from the Max Planck Society](https://www.cbs.mpg.de/Fear-of-spiders-and-snakes-is-deeply-embedded-in-us) on recent research comparing infants' reactions to various stimuli (from benign fish and flowers to non-benign snakes and spiders):

  "We conclude that fear of snakes and spiders is of evolutionary origin. Similar to primates, mechanisms in our brains enable us to identify objects as 'spider’ or 'snake’ and to react to them very fast."

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Welcome to Psychology.SE. Can you please cite some example papers on the innate nature of fear, the effects of exposure therapy and the claim that felling of physical pain can be lessened with rising mood as a result of physical exercise?  
> **username_3**: Thank you for the constructive criticisms and suggestions. I have updated my answer accordingly by adding supporting references. I've also clarified that sudism is a philosophy, not a science, for the simple reason that there are no instruments to precisely measure subjective affect (i.e. pleasant or unpleasant sensations, whether physical, emotional, or otherwise).  

---

