The One Weird Fear All Humans Share

[@PunkSkaful]

Make a video about "Why is it scary to close your eyes in shower"

[@ImGamingchannel]

+PunkSkaful me too i agree

[@analyndelosun244]

omg I thought u was the only one

[@dalia5272]

That's true

[@shawnatshawn]

Haha, yes!

[@LimeGreenTeknii]

+PunkSkaful A human's most valuable sense is sight. Many things become impossible for people who are used to seeing when they suddenly become blind, including detecting quiet approaching threats. While it's temporary and voluntary, you still can't open your eyes suddenly if you feel like opening them. That loss of control and certainty naturally causes fear in a primal part of us.

[@PhanteusZ]

“If you are depressed you are living in the past. If you are anxious you are living in the future. If you are at peace you are living in the present.” ― Lao Tzu A mind that does not anticipate the future, is free of fear. To be in the present is when the mind does not worry of the future nor regrets the past. It experiences what is perceived at the present as it happens.

[@jacksonsalyerbehr7871]

But how you do that is the real test

[@zakosist]

+Phanteus I like the quote but not always right. For some people the present is miserable, for some the past was better or possibly the future. I'm pretty sure the people who are starving won't be happy "living in the present".

[@icarus9238]

I am in the present. Enjoying a meaningless existence with no goals.

[@unreleasedpapzz]

People could be depressed for no reason because they dont have enough of dopamine

[@ilovethefreezespell6531]

High correlation between desperation and anxiety

[@NicoNicoMikkun]

I think fear is a bit of a strong word. Feeling somewhat uncomfortable, or slightly anxious when things are approaching you is probably a better way to phrase this. I don't think anyone feels "scared" (as this is a rather powerful emotion), but slight discomfort or anxiety seems much more likely.

[@johnhersh4654]

Fear is the right word. Fear is scared/anxious. Terror would be the wrong word

[@NicoNicoMikkun]

Fair enough, though I generally associate it with worry rather than fear which I see as similar but slightly different. But I suppose its all the same more or less.

[@EmceeWhitey]

+NicoNicoMikkun well actually all of our emotional feelings stem from a select few that we call "basic" or "root" emotions, such as fear, joy, and anger for example. Every emotion you and John mentioned are produced by the basic emotion of fear, which is all connected to and activated by what is called a "sense of loss"(when you feel like you will lose something).

[@LENZ5369]

Nico's assertion has as much validity as what both of you have said. You can't objectively qualify emotions any more than you can anything else that is completely subjective. There is a reason that psychology doesn't really have solid principals, laws and facts like the hard sciences and even many of the soft ones as well. Besides I believe anxiety is the correct term. The approach of an important exam date would likely induce what most would consider 'anxiety'. From what I understand most people and in fact many animals would react to any approaching uncertainty with 'anxiety', that anxiety would become 'fear' once that uncertainty is assumed/identified as a threat.

[@MsBonnieArt]

am i the only one that instantly thought of death when i read the title?

[@dalia5272]

No bonnie

[@kennethbadon9677]

+Toy Bonnie nope

[@cionne935]

I did !!

[@mssaarahn]

I thought it too... I guess it still is covered in this: as in, the fear of death approaching...

[@lei1197]

+Toy Bonnie no, I thought about ghosts

[@Andre83572]

Anyone else feel extremely awkward when walking past someone on the street?

[@KellyFairman]

I just say "Hey" or "Good morning" when I get to the person, but it's when I'm farther away, when I see someone coming in the distance that's very uncomfortable.

[@justsain3236]

+Kelly Fairman so you must be extremely uncomfortable when your in town shopping.

[@KellyFairman]

+Just Sa'in No, that's different. On a sidewalk, me & the other person are much closer. There is rarely more than two people on the sidewalks in my whole town, so it's kind of "taboo" when we cross paths.

[@justsain3236]

+Kelly Fairman I see what you mean, I don't give those people eye contact for more than a second never mind saying "hello" or "good morning". They may not say hello back then you feel awkward.

[@henkdevries4018]

I used to, people in the city can be bitches. Then I lifted weights for a year or so, quit, lost a lot of strength. But it changed me psychologically. you know that grungy group of teens that used to yell at you when you walk past them? They don't do that to me anymore.

[@dnomarsenoj7063]

fear keeps you alive, but it may also cause your death.

[@Red-qg3ms]

👏

[@agent-sz2qj]

yeah but only the fear of death, other fears are irrelevant

[@dnomarsenoj7063]

not necessarily, fear for others, fear of loosing a friend, getting lost, fear of black people. fear of being poor or fate of men

[@Red-qg3ms]

d'nomar senoj fear of black people? Tf?

[@CrayonsYummyYummy]

+d'nomar senoj Wtf fear of black people lmao. That was so random.

[@gethinjones5845]

I am especially afraid of cars moving towards me when I'm in the middle if the road.

[@crylo1044]

Yes, I have the same problem. I just got my permit and now taking behind the wheel training and I'm scared shitless when a car is approaching me from front or back...

[@David-uc4hc]

I suddenly just realized what triggers most of my general anxiety. Mind blown. The more you know.

[@joyfall777]

My exams are coming closer...damn Im scared 🙈

[@rinad1201]

Lol nice pun

[@deathwish766]

+Kiah'sBookCorner I don't think you know what a pun is...

[@courtneyd5379]

... I don't think you understand what a pun is... 😂

[@agent-sz2qj]

best comment so far lol

[@guyafrica7894]

go slay em

[@KellseyAlexHipo]

Wait, shouldn't it be anxiety rather than fear? It would make more sense because anxiety is caused by uncertainty. An upcoming date could cause anxiety because you don't know what will happen. Fear is when you KNOW something is dangerous or threatening and you react to it. So wouldn't anxiety be more fitting then fear here?

[@TheAlmightiest]

KellseyAlexHipo Some people can't tell the difference, but yes you are right we are talking more about anxiety here.

[@doktorryeen5124]

I see everything as a threat for some reason

[@PhanteusZ]

KellseyAlexHipo Both are seen as "dangerous" which the person tries to avoid. Ultimately they are the same.

[@KellseyAlexHipo]

Phanteus But I mean, that's the thing about anxiety. It's caused by uncertainty about how dangerous something is. Once you KNOW it's dangerous, anxiety becomes fear. I'm not sure if you've ever watched Vsauce, but there's a video he made on creepiness. That's what I'm using as a reference for the definition and usage of the two words, I guess.

[@PhanteusZ]

KellseyAlexHipo Yes but both spawn from the idea that one must protect one self for survival, that one is in danger from the outside world. All conscious living beings have fear.

[@Megsoccerstar14]

I am terrified of when a slug is moving towards me at .00002 mph..

[@CelciaSnow]

This fear isn't entirely useless. You never know these days who's batshit insane so it's not unreasonable to be cautious of and move away from people. The world is unpredictable.

[@Foxxx-01]

This is really fits for those who have social anxiety issues

[@cameron6783]

Agreed

[@kauancorte541]

Those letters getting closer and closer almost made me have a heart attack.

[@Nytecrawlr103]

it made me think something was gonna happen, like a jumpstart of something

[@dastan6373]

I used to have dreams about things getting bigger and bigger and it was fucking scary!!

[@Armadder]

omg me too! It's so weird.

[@blobbita]

Same! For some reason I have dreamt about tires hetting bigger and bigger... 😂

[@samara6189]

oh my gosh, I did as well! Sometimes the things would turn like really tall and skinny, and then get bigger and rounder and it would freak me out.

[@dastan6373]

BRICK TAMLAND lol same!! it's weird

[@ggFi6]

same omgg

[@GaianEntertainment]

Fear of things moving closer isn't really about approach, imo. It's a fear of unknown, nothing more, nothing less. A looming deadline causes worry due to unknown consequences or unknown results. An aproaching stranger is an unknown as well. Them walking isn't causing fear, not knowing what they'll do when they reach you (or pass by) may. Ditto for animals, etc. It's a fear of the unknown.

[@SameDaySharpening]

I actually really like what you said. I think you're right that it's not about stuff coming closer, it's a fear of the unknown.

[@timtitus6226]

Science calls it being afraid. I call it being ready.

[@LuigiTheHeadcrab]

very interesting. I saw this video of a woman dancing in a strange way that was fascinating, but I specifically remember getting rather stressed/scared every time it looked like she was going towards the camera, and went right back to enjoying it as soon as she went another direction. I didn't know why though :)

[@thahdeepseadivuh7501]

I am the walrus?

[@LuigiTheHeadcrab]

***** nah it was this pretty lady doing a traditional hindu dance or something. it was as lovely as it was creepy but i don't remember what it was called

[@Fjolvarr]

My room mate told me a repair person was going to come by, but didn't have permission to enter. So I locked all the doors and hid under my bed till the guy finished his repairs.

[@iamjulian2810]

tf

[@mvanilla77]

This explains my weird fear of walking on the sidewalk. I always hated all those people coming toward me. Like wanna fight bro??????

[@jamesvaughan8355]

We will constantly live in fear as long as the I.R.S. exists.

[@JohnRobenault]

+James Vaughan Haha! Nice one!

[@EmceeWhitey]

+James Vaughan unless you get a great lawyer who will show the judge how completely illegal some of these taxes are, such as the income tax.

[@JaydedCPA]

nice

[@skid7907]

L

[@munem939]

That explains why I'm always scared of my friends whenever I see them walking towards me! Then again... I have severe depression and really bad anxiety issues too! xD At least it explains it a bit :3

[@SoupaTech]

Whenever that happens, I pull my phone out and make it look like im using it and at the last second of them passing me, I would look up and say hey and if they want to talk, then we talk.

[@munem939]

Цветомир Цветков Tried that a lot, even attempted a few of days ago, and my body just didn't seem to die. Even after taking 36 paracetamols, 3 ibuprofens and 12 anti-histamine tablets in the space of 2 days; in my attempt a few days ago :L I guess I'm just to stubborn to die :/

[@tzetzo_tzetzov]

munem939 This is special kind of curse!

[@tzetzo_tzetzov]

munem939 If ever you try to suicide by jumping from high building please do a backflip!!

[@str8todamoney]

Цветомир Цветков lol you fucking psychopath

[@silverrain530]

I think it is a control thing. People feel like they are losing control of the situation when something comes closer and it makes them nervous. At least I think that's why I would be afraid.

[@iiRadicals]

you're doing what psychology calls "projecting"

[@atrapdr6251]

The only example of this I can think if is when the teacher gets off their chair and starts walking about and slowly, just slowly, she starts walking in your direction and you could hear the footsteps coming closer and closer as you bend your head into your notebook praying she won't come too close, or in your row. But suddenly she stops at you side and asks "Are you okay?" And you nod feverishly and let out a breath you didn't know you were holding as her clacking heels leave.

[@vincentv6891]

There is no courage without fear.

[@mithril45]

I never really thought about it, but when I'm standing on the sidewalk, people walking towards me do make me feel a little uncomfortable. I've always preferred to avoid people though. I'd be an awesome recluse if I didn't have to work.

[@gendoruwo6322]

i think like this all the time whenever i'm walking outside: This guy's getting closer. Now what do I do to 'neutralize' him in case he tries something with me?' This, and thus my love for learning martial arts.

[@NovaSniper12]

should you neutralize him? lol what the heck is wrong with you xD I use to do martial arts as well so I understand your imagination but to an extent lmao

[@サイサイ-w9p]

you anxiety riddled fuck lmao.

[@chaibaby1890]

That moment in spongebob where the krabby patty is moving closer and closer and the guy is singing "dit dot didileet dot dot dot dun" is the most stressful thing ever so yeah. What they're saying is at least partially true.

[@jakedacatman]

"The only thing we have to fear is things moving toward us." -FDR

[@madmoblin]

TheSpikyMinerz "And giant man-eating spiders!"

[@sheltonburnadeski5946]

+TheSpikyMinerz "And the Federal Reserves!"

[@jakedacatman]

wow

[@sd91499]

But, I'm not scared of things approaching me. Maybe things like a dog might make me a little uneasy, but not people or something that I know won't try to hurt me.

[@ChipChocolatePR]

You would be scared if you're walking at night trying to get to your house and then you look back and you see a person walking behind you and gets closer and closer ontill he pass right by you or just kills you. you never know. lol

[@thisscreensucks]

i bet when theres someone walking your way on the street you move around them. thats part of this. its not nessesarily direct FEAR of things, but uneasiness, avoidance, worry. and like she said ALL test subjects exhibited this. no one is immune

[@williamzinedineh]

Its like when i play skyrim and sometimes i attack my companions when they come towards me

[@ShawnRavenfire]

thisscreensucks I think that kind of avoidance is probably just to avoid bumping into the other person. We know that we both need space around us to maneuver.

[@TheKrister2]

ChipChocolatePR Pfft, I'm the one usually following people at night... it... it's not like I want to kill you.... *baka*.....

[@cyber_dragon_123]

I guess this is why a dog gets 'skittish' when you approach it.

[@gendoruwo6322]

or why a girl runs away whenever I say Hi.

[@elizaj6499]

+Gendo ruwo 😂

[@ThomasJDavis]

I thought death would have been the universal fear humans all share.

[@TheCuriousNoob]

00:29 This guy was resourceful enough to have an animal pelt to protect him from the frigid environment but decided to make a half-ass toga and go barefoot. He needs to stop watching the Flintstones so much and do something with his life.

[@sheltonburnadeski5946]

+The Curious Noob It's a guy posing for a photo. Are you serious right now?

[@TheCuriousNoob]

Not even a little bit. Calm down.

[@sheltonburnadeski5946]

The Curious Noob I was calm. I'm glad you weren't serious.

[@destinedtobedifferent9921]

+Shelton Burnadeski It's very inaccurate.

[@ShawnRavenfire]

First of all, I don't think that the approaching dates fear is related to the approaching objects fear. I think any stress related to an approaching event or date is more to do with planning and preparations, and less to do with confusing it for a wild animal. I notice we don't get stressed about approaching dates/times like the end of a work shift or the microwave being finished. Second, I think a lot of marketers already know about this tactic. Notice in political campaign ads, whenever they show the opponent, the camera is always slowly zooming in (usually accompanied by creepy music).

[@AlgaeEater09]

Exactly

[@VariantAEC]

Plus one! KZbin I should really be able to +1 comments on mobile by now.

[@jackcarr45]

VariantAEC well it did take them nearly 2 years to apply the reply feature for comments, so the chances of being able to plus 1 a comment sometime soon are next to nothing...

[@ExgaGaming]

VariantAEC Press on the comment and a box should appear with the ability to like/+1. It works on my iPad, not 100% sure about phones though.

[@Eric_D_6]

ExgaGaming Works the same way on Android

[@stiimuli]

Finally, a study that explains why people scream and run when I walk toward them.

[@TheEarthCreature]

I have never felt this fear before...

[@allyourpcarebelongtous8744]

neither have i. so I looked at the study and the conclusions the researchers are making are dubious at best. participants rated their feelings towards large letters more negative than those of small letters, therefore researchers concluded we are afraid of approaching objects

[@daffymax8456]

Suuuuuurrrreee

[@TheSonic1685]

How big was the sample size in the study?

[@BartholomewConstantine]

2 ppl

[@DevonExplorer]

And how close did the researchers get? ;)

[@Mark-uk8wz]

1/2 a person

[@Pleaseunderstand]

Well Shit. No wonder It Follows was such a scary movie. And for anyone who hasn't seen it, I highly recommend it.

[@dubwavy6386]

You guys that haven't seen it can pay or watch it on genvideos

[@ncktyu]

I have social anxiety and people scare me no matter what they do.

[@Psyconaut116]

*Doing things*

[@ncktyu]

***** I'm a male. That getting laid isn't so easy anymore is it?

[@DangerZone200]

nick ty you crazy women are statistically a lot more sluttier then they were a 100 years ago thanks to all the freaken modified food that brings out their hormones and i didnt even mention all the brain washing advertisement does

[@ncktyu]

***** I wish bro

[@DangerZone200]

nick ty lmao hmm maybe your just an asshole? XD

[@lucyregina5559]

I'm pretty sure things moving toward you is still dangerous. To name just three reasons: Fast moving vehicles, rapists, grizzly bears. There are so many more but yeah.

[@emilyhutton9919]

It bothers me that the globe in the background includes Madagascar but doesn't include New Zealand

[@robertcornhole5197]

That has to be why "weeping angel" style monsters freak so many people out. They're getting closer... AND YOU DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE AT FIRST!

[@martianmanfrommars8428]

I have a question. Why do I always get nervous when walking into a theater room at a movie theater. I'm not scared and I know nothings gonna happen. I just get very nervous and jittery from walking into the room.

[@martianmanfrommars8428]

***** I don't think it's the first one and the second may be true, but I don't think it's the cause. It maybe that I don't like the dark and loud or booming noises, which tend to mix with each other in a movie theater. Or maybe it's because when I was a little kid I was too afraid to go in a movie theater to see Finding Nemo.

[@randomdood1099]

MartianManFromMars did you even watch the vid? it says the anser to your question

[@martianmanfrommars8428]

Troy Stenzel Where?

[@OhmySKoD]

The article you linked has been an interesting read, thank you folks at Dnews. ♥

[@actuallyBeanz]

Am I the only one thinking of the episode from spongebob where the burger kept moving closer?

[@zabayomi]

😹

[@ratsvt]

-_____- How did youuuuu knowwwww?

[@_khushikumar]

🍔

[@ratsvt]

Khushi Kumar Pft. What makes you think I'm... Scare- AHHH OH MY FREAKING GOD IT'S MOVING CLOOSSSSEEERRRR!!! O: O: O:

[@brandex2011]

+Noahjr Fleitz One must always suspect burger creep. Isn't that the eleventh commandment?

[@GodsGirlSince93]

I have an anxiety disorder, I'm afraid of everything all the time. I sit in worry for months about everyday things. I'm used to living in fear. I learned to live with it and accept that it's a part of who I am. We all have fight or flight, just some people have it more intensely then others.

[@terrysartin952]

that's why people hate the jaws theme music

[@gootintag5453]

I'm glad Tara is part of the D news crew now. She 's purty and has a soothing voice. Two useful attributes when relaying information to a lot of people.

[@maryfoxx6019]

Considering all the RAPE and ABDUCTIONS and MURDER that goes on I simply cannot understand why we'd have this fear... (/sarcasm)

[@PokeMills]

That explains why when the letter Aa was getting closer to the screen I yelled *"GET THAT GOD-DAM LETTER AWAY FROM ME!"* -__-

[@Epicurean999]

is "this" the cause of my procrastination? >.

[@Wakeupgrandowl]

Could also be depression, anxiety and or ADD/ADHD.

[@dinoboy34]

i recently developed a fear of people, objects, and dates getting closer. i have no idea why, i just started being increasingly more afraid of things like that. i was okay before but now im just terrified of everything

[@lailanityler2380]

Omfg this is me I'm not even joking, my sister would be walking toward me in a wierd way and i flip out.

[@Oushiro17]

As a child I use to have nightmares every night which included things coming closer to me really quickly. I know for certain that I have this particular issue, and I hate it because sometimes it severely impacts my day to day life.

[@sicktoaster]

Maybe "fear" is the wrong word. I have a feeling the way they use the term "Fear" in science is not entirely equivalent to how people use the word in their daily life. "Fear" in science is more like a feeling of "alert, notice, this could be important". While the general physiology may be roughly the same one person may experience this as "excitement" in certain contexts say when a loved one is running up to you and you know they are about to give you a hug. So then it boils down to the amygdala keeping us aware of our environment anytime something approaches us, which is good because if something is approaching you it might soon be something you'll have to deal with even unexpectedly. That stranger on the street may be asking you about something and you may respond better if you notice them approaching you first and aren't taken by surprise.

[@sicktoaster]

How was "fear" measured? Did the people say they were afraid? Or were physiological signs read? If the latter then it's likely what scientists read as "fear" is sometimes not labeled or experienced as such by humans. Also did they study other cultures or was this only in one culture? How many studies? Can we truly rule out the existence of a minority tendency no matter how small in humans that doesn't share this trait?

[@LSpiro]

sicktoaster I was basically going to say as much. A startled reaction towards something coming towards you is simply natural until you identify what the object is. Since they claim it happens even with benign objects and even your friends I assume they controlled this out of the experiment, because you wouldn’t know it is benign or a friend unless you have identified it. As far as I could tell, I was completely indifferent when the letters came at me. It’s just an effect on a screen like so many I have seen before. I used to pretend as a child I was a movie camera (and close one eye) and would bring toys towards myself for that dramatic cinematic shot for my own enjoyment. If there was any level of innate fear of “something coming towards me” that I could identify as benign, it had no manifestation in reality as I have already been well trained to pursue reason and logic above animal reactions. “It’s benign. Just make sure it doesn’t get in my eye.”

[@geebeepman]

i'm not being paranoid, but when i stroll down the streets i always keep an eye out for any potential danger especially from suspicious-looking people heading towards me. you can never be too careful these days. better safe than sorry.

[@trueenvy245]

A gets closer* Me "get the hell away"

[@cockblocker4204]

AAAA

[@joylox]

I used to get really bad nightmares where strange objects would randomly appear in my room and shoot straight for me, then quickly veer past. It scared me so bad, even just remembering!

[@youcanthandlemyname7393]

not gonna lie that A that kept getting bigger and bigger freaked me out.

[@SangoProductions213]

Fear is usually when a response passes a certain threshold. There is no way someone can simply not respond to something, when they are paying attention to it. (At the very least, you have to track the movement.)

[@mikisi9694]

This is not a human thing this instinct is shared by literally every single animal with a brain. Even inscects

[@enoXiwame]

That actually makes a lot of sense. Whenever something comes closer to me, like a ball or a person, I always feel like I'm gonna get hit or fall down

[@SecondLifeDesigner]

I would like to know how the study determined when the participants were experiencing fear. If it is just elevating blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate then that is not necessarily fear. If that was the case then having sex could be considered a fear producing event and that all people while having sex were in a state of fear. I can see why some people would have a fear reaction to many of the examples given in the video. I am just saying it is probably just natural to go into a more heighten sense of physiological arousal when things approach you body is just getting prepared to interactive with it. I am just saying it is not necessarily a fear response.

[@MrJohbje02]

As a kid I was always paranoid, I'm not paranoid anymore but I kind of got used to it and now the slightest sound or movement scares me, like one day I walked down the street and almost punched a guy for just walking fast behind me, the only good thing about this is that I've trained my hearing and eye site because I've always been on my guard and I can't be jumped on that easily.

[@lordadamson]

I can't relate to any of this. And it surprises me that a lot of people do agree with what she says!

[@lordadamson]

lol yeah that would :D

[@AriaHarmony]

This is why back in school I almost always did my homework and studying for exams as early as my schedule allowed, and then pretend they and their deadlines don't exist anymore. I never understood my classmates that do EVERYTHING last minute, how could they handle the stress? Approaching deadlines when I know I have got more to do would cripple me with anxiety if I keep facing them over and over all year long...

[@aryaahmadi4029]

I fear that TWO devil are watching this video: 666,666 views

[@juanpablosanchezperez8940]

Omg you too?

[@dreamsansnightmaresans6585]

no need to fear now

[@PapaJoJ]

naw, you're just dumb or paranoid, it'll be okay, bud

[@YokoFujioka]

I mean I've been hit by a car before so I feel like the fear isn't entirely without reason? I'm a very jumpy person, and it just helps to be aware of your surroundings.

[@lucaswvargas3826]

We don't approach death, it approaches us and we welcome it accordingly. #life

[@jamietalbot445]

Truth

[@ashmantwo]

then we reincarnate over after a 49day waiting period minimum and the cycle continues !! huzzah

[@lucaswvargas3826]

Reincarnate? Haha the adult fairy tale.

[@DangerZone200]

yeah i used to be scared but over the years ive learnt to just switch the fear off sure fear makes people more alert but when it comes down to it all that focus is just a waste of energy you'd be surprised how much more clearly your able to think in public without fear i swear to god ive had a few rare moments of bullet time when i thought hard about something important to me

[@rcnelson]

I wish I feared those numerous forkfuls of food coming at me.

[@jshajdhasjdhsad4878]

Maybe that's why in video games, whenever someone approaches or nears me, I just panic and my aim just jumps off a cliff.

[@Ravinian]

What I think about this is you should have explained what you mean by "fear" a little bit. I'm quite certain you lost most of your audience when you said we all feel fear when things approach us. I don't feel any fear (as I understand the word to mean) at all with the approach of nonthreatening strangers. I assure you, I can walk down a mall, and have hundreds of times, with strangers constantly approaching me and feel no fear at all. I feel almost the entire population of humans and certainly the vast majority of your audience have done the same. You might also have explained what "approach avoidance" actually is, and what, if any behavior is considered to be approach avoidance.

[@andrewc874]

That's cause you know they're not "approaching" you specifically. A better scenario would be a lone stranger walking towards you in the night. I've always felt a bit uneasy in that situation even though I almost always have no reason to be. I got mugged once by a crazy dude who was foaming at the mouth, but I digress...

[@Ravinian]

K2ACP Well, that's not what they are talking about in this video. Your scenario would at least be plausible, but even then not 100% of people are afraid of stranger approaching them at night. In this vid they are talking about things getting closer to you, so the mall they are approaching you. I mean..they said people had "fear" when the letter "A" appeared to approach them..clearly not talking about a stranger "heading right for us!" at night.

[@MyName_Jeff]

***** Especially if they're black

[@VenrezvonVyntari]

This probably helps to (partially) explain why I have an innate stress and self-defense response if anybody, absolutely anybody, approaches me. I tense up, grit my teeth and immediately have flashes of what I should do to defend myself race through my mind. Do I punch them in the face? Do I back away? Do I yell and make a loud noise? Its also evident in why I find going to the supermarket / outside absolutely stressful to the point I cant handle it more than maybe once a week, at the most. People are monsters. Experience is the other largely contributing factor.

[@KassMcCormack]

This explains why I keep putting off buying a new laptop.

[@gendoruwo6322]

Do not let that new laptop approach you. It's going to be bad...

[@sopretty43vr]

I gotta steal on a brand new MacBook Pro. Traded my bike and camera for it. Bike was used and about 400, camera was 150. The Mac is in the thousands lmao

[@KassMcCormack]

@Yung Tarantino please teach me your ways!

[@sopretty43vr]

+Taylor Romano I just got lucky and knew a guy that had multiple Mac books and didn't really need all of them

[@micahthaoriginal6316]

if someone is walking towards me i don't get scared i just instantly be on guard... but i also try to get out of the area quick so.... i maybe a bit scared Cx

[@davidbradley6040]

"They're coming to get you Barbara"

[@Edotter]

I always wondered why it seemed to upset me so much when one of my roommates would come charging to the front door to open it for me when I'm standing on the porch. Well there you go.

[@MrThatonebitch]

Aha, so we're prey animals. Makes sense

[@EtInArcadioEgo]

In horror films, if a monster is moving closer to the screen, the anxiety intensifies, if it's moving away, it's not so bad. It's also why some people look away during a scary scene because the monster is on screen and basically in your living room. If a horror movie was shot where this was happening yards away, imagine how non-scary it would be. Take the scariest horror film you can think of, then move all the characters far away, it gets much less intense. I had no clue but it explains why some seemingly innocuous things moving closer can be unnerving, along with approaching dates, etc. Thanks!!

[@rosebrigade]

I don't think scientists have used the right methods to come to this conclusion. I'm not afraid of approaching objects or entities. I don't know many people who are either. Most people who are afraid of such have are either in their elder years, or have had a traumatic experience with something that involved an approaching object or entity. That's just from my experience though, what do I know I'm not a researcher lols.

[@lemmontree6638]

So if somebody is throwing a fist at you, you aren't going to be scared?

[@LadyRebelle16]

Yeah but that's with the prospect of potential pain. Incoming sound, letters or events are not going to cause physical pain. The real fear in that scenario is the incoming pain of getting hit, not the fist itself.

[@rosebrigade]

Lena Yousif Exactly what Jephrsyn Gee said. Fear of approaching objects has nothing to do with fear of pain. You know when a fist hits you, it's going to hurt. Are you afraid of every single person walking towards you? Growing letters and text? Approaching animals like cats or dogs? Most likely not. Like I said the scientists took the wrong experiments and got the wrong conclusions.

[@Henchman_Holding_Wrench]

Most of the time, I get more exited as I get closer to the stuff coming up on my calendar. I also feel a slight relief when I see the train or bus finally coming my way. Maybe I'd be more afraid if it was only things I wasn't expecting.

[@nfcoard]

I love it when people approach me. So much for this theory.

[@3astond]

Ha ha, yes!

[@mangokraken]

like when the teacher is taking roll in class and shes getting closer and closer to calling your name, and then she/he does and its scary but then you say 'here' and you nail it perfectly.

[@tommytucker5464]

i have a fear of being scared

[@itzybitzyspyder]

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself!

[@aydinb3218]

This explains why most people walking down the street towards you will suddenly find something in a totally opposite direction from where you are very interesting for the second you walk past them.

[@Nytecrawlr103]

Clorox bleach is here

[@himynameisbrianna7754]

Clorox Bleach save me

[@SIedgeHammer83]

Ahhh bleach, always there to give me warn, confront and sense of security.

[@xanatosking01]

Thank you. This research has given me more information in addressing my own issues, what is normal and what is extreme parts of my psyche. Every little bit helps.

[@TGWTHF]

so,... logically... humans would be afraid of moving at all then? because if we move/walk somewhere, things are going to be moving towards us constantly, or appear as if they are lmfao wow XD

[@williamzinedineh]

Afraid is a strong word. Its more like you get nervous

[@3astond]

No, not really. The difference between you approaching something and something approaching you is that you have complete control.

[@TGWTHF]

David Easton not if you're in the passenger seat of a car lol

[@3astond]

Horse - TGWTHF Ah you got me there, but I think I've covered walking and running.

[@TGWTHF]

David Easton yeah I know, but the way it was explained was whether you have control or not really it was just things moving towards you... :F I was just being a smartass fr the sake of being a smartass lmfao XD

[@generaljing7442]

When ever i get sick I have a reoccurring nightmare of a globe and a piano floating above me and getting bigger and closer.

[@99waterlife]

I have an extreme fear of wasps

[@andreaa8173]

Throughout the first part of the video I was like "eh that's understandable but I'm not scared of people walking towards me" but then she said of events getting closer I freaked out because I remembered all my exams and homework due. So accurate....

[@yourlocalstargal]

Who else has to watch these videos like three times to remember? XD

[@strangegaming3060]

That's really interesting. That seems to explain why in really intense moments in movies, the camera tends to zoom or move in on the action. It just creates a sense of uneasiness.

[@TailRunnerOPSpec]

This is stupid as shit. This isn't true at all. Like, I'm actually confused over this "study." I'm emetophobic, so I know what a fear is. Wow.

[@evildesu]

Do you have proof it isn't true? I and most people will believe the researchers over you. Also it isn't full blown fear, it is probably nervousness and anticipation to the coming person/object/event. Although I greatly fear my dental check ups.

[@TailRunnerOPSpec]

***** Proof it isn't true? Uhmm, I'm proof. I'm not afraid of advancing things, dates, objects... at all and it is hubris to state that all humans have such fear. "All" in any finding is usually fallacious in context.

[@evildesu]

MarrickFait You may not feel fear directly, its what goes on the brain. The people they tested may not have expressed fear, but their brainwaves may have indicated a subconscious fear. If we expressed fear at everything we'd get nowhere in our lives, the fear is probably at a subconscious level which will intensify if the object/person really is a threat.

[@TailRunnerOPSpec]

***** That makes little to no sense. You must research and understand fear completely to understand it. I've been researching fear since 2007. I, do not, fear any approaching objects.

[@xavmanisdabestest]

MarrickFait It's not necessarily fear just the uneasy feeling you might get when a lone stranger approaches you.

[@frozeneternity93]

I wonder if this plays into the ease of communicating over the internet and the anxiety that people that frequent the internet feel as they do not develop coping mechanism for this sort of thing. It would be interesting to see a study showing the degree of fear people have and how much social interactive they usually have daily with people.

[@bits3608]

am i the only 1 not scared of this?

[@zakosist]

+Evan Mayville Im only scared of things moving towards me if they come abruptly

[@junedanieltamor9071]

+zakosist I'm scared of big butterflies flying towàrds me

[@megancochran7335]

no. my hole family isnt

[@yueqiuthefoxspirit3014]

+the jdlt ...is it ok for me to be here now? cause I'm a moth...

[@Enigmatic666]

So that is what that is. I've always called it my feeling of impending doom. I get it every day before going to work. I even get it when going to appointments, running errands, and when people walk up to me. It makes asking for help and something as simple as ordering food such a big deal. :/

[@MarieSueMax]

then let us crawl into a cave and live

[@shirajonathan6990]

MarieSueMax I know right

[@sondrex76]

When I was emotionless(or as close as you can get[I am pretty sure I had crippling depression]) for w while I couldn't really get scared, but the pattern of getting attentive when something is moving toward me exists, so it sounds like a true statement that humans fear things that are getting closer.

[@ninjanerdstudent6937]

Excited but nervous feelings of impending events make sense with this. I guess nervousness is considered fear.