Psychology Of Fear

In the context of global economic recession, fear has become institutionalized in many organizations, both in the private and public sectors. Board directors are under pressure from shareholders, senior executives are attempting to maintain sales in a nervous market and many people are concerned about job security and maintaining their living standards. The Psychology of Fear in Organizations shows how fear manifests itself in large organizations, how it impacts on the workforce and how by reducing our willingness to take risks and to innovate, it can inhibit economic growth and innovation, at both an individual and corporate level. The Psychology of Fear in Organizations examines the psychological barriers to innovation and presents initiatives to loosen the paralysis caused by the economic downturn. It presents psychological theory in an accessible way to provide a better understanding of the needs and fears of people and how they can be supported to improve productivity and innovation. Online supporting resources include lecture slides on how to harness fear to fuel innovation.

Combining popular appeal with accessibly written entries suitable for research projects, this fascinating encyclopedia provides a thorough introduction to the psychological and scientific aspects of phobias. Many people have irrational fears. Phobias affect about 19 million Americans each year. So is fear "normal"? At what point do fears become clinical phobias? Phobias: The Psychology of Irrational Fear is the definitive volume on a broad range of topics related to fears and phobias. After an introduction to the subject of fear and phobias, the encyclopedia presents approximately 200 A–Z, cross-referenced entries that address phobias from a variety of angles-types of fears, root causes, physiological and psychological effects, classification, and treatments. The work presents accurate, authoritative, and up-to-date information based on scientific evidence. The majority of the numerous contributors are anxiety disorder researchers and clinicians who possess cutting-edge knowledge of their areas of expertise. Ideal for both high school students and general audiences, readers will be engaged by high-interest content that not only details and explains various phobias but enables them to trace the history, theories, and practices associated with the study and treatment of phobias.

How do human emotions arise, what functions do they serve, what is their evolutionary background, how do they relate to behaviour and the brain? These questions are put, and answered, in relation to the emotion of fear in this, the second edition of professor Gray's extremely well known book, first published in 1971. In this edition, the text has been extensively modified and brought up-to-date, but the book maintains the style and general argument of the first edition. The author's approach in this book is from a biological standpoint; he emphasises the evidence that has accumulated from experiments by psychologists, ethologists, physiologists and endocrinologists. Although a lot of this evidence has been obtained from animal studies, it throws light on the psychology and physiology of fear in Man. Differences between individuals in their susceptibility to fear are treated with as much attention as the common factors are.

Fear is a normal human emotional reaction -- it is a built-in survival mechanism with which we are all equipped. Fear is a reaction to danger that involves both the mind and body. It serves a protective purpose -- signalling us of danger and preparing us to deal with it. The major components of fear are sensations, feelings, cognitions and behaviours. Fear can be individual or collective such as expressed in the national fear in the United States related to terrorism. The Washington DC sniper attacks caused widespread fear in a large geographic region far out of proportion to the real danger. Individuals must cope with fear on a daily basis in a myriad of forms: financial fears, health fears, relationship conflict fears, dental appointments, fears about the future etc. This new book collects important research which helps shed light on important issues in this field which touches all of us each day.

The media continue to have a significant persuasive influence on the public perception of crime, even when the information presented is not reflective of the crime rate or actual crime itself. There have been numerous theoretical studies on fear of crime in the media, but few have considered this from a social psychological perspective. As new media outlets emerge and public dependence on them increases, the need for such awareness has never been greater. This volume lays the foundation for understanding fear of crime from a social psychological perspective in a way that has not yet been systematically presented to the academic world. This volume brings together an international team of experts and scholars to assess the role of fear and the media in everyday life. Chapters take a multidisciplinary approach to psychology, sociology and criminology and explore such topics as dual process theory, construal level theory, public fascination with gangs, and other contemporary issues.

A leading expert in animal behavior takes us into the wild to better understand and manage our fears. Fear, honed by millions of years of natural selection, kept our ancestors alive. Whether by slithering away, curling up in a ball, or standing still in the presence of a predator, humans and other animals have evolved complex behaviors in order to survive the hazards the world presents. But, despite our evolutionary endurance, we still have much to learn about how to manage our response to danger. For more than thirty years, Daniel Blumstein has been studying animals’ fear responses. His observations lead to a firm conclusion: fear preserves security, but at great cost. A foraging flock of birds expends valuable energy by quickly taking flight when a raptor appears. And though the birds might successfully escape, they leave their food source behind. Giant clams protect their valuable tissue by retracting their mantles and closing their shells when a shadow passes overhead, but then they are unable to photosynthesize, losing the capacity to grow. Among humans, fear is often an understandable and justifiable response to sources of threat, but it can exact a high toll on health and productivity. Delving into the evolutionary origins and ecological contexts of fear across species, The Nature of Fear considers what we can learn from our fellow animals—from successes and failures. By observing how animals leverage alarm to their advantage, we can develop new strategies for facing risks without panic.

Brainblocks are the mental obstacles that keep people from achieving success, defined as setting, pursuing, and achieving a goal. Managing the brain is the solution to preventing mental blocks from interfering with achieving your goals. And neuropsychologist Dr. Theo Tsaousides gives you the tools to improve: Awareness: • the seven brainblocks to success (self-doubt, procrastination, impatience, multitasking, rigidity, perfectionism, negativity) • the characteristic feelings, thoughts, and actions associated with each brainblock • the brain functions involved in goal-oriented action • brain glitches and how they create setbacks • the cost of not removing brainblocks • the best strategies to remove the blocks Engagement: • actively search for brainblocks in your actions, thoughts, and feelings • recognize and label each brainblock as soon as it is identified • practice each strategy consistently until it becomes second nature • track your progress toward a goal Through these strategies you will learn to overcome these cognitive obstacles and harness the power of the brain to achieve success in any endeavor.

After a quarter century, LOVE IS LETTING GO OF FEAR is still one of the most widely read and best-loved books on personal transformation and has become a classic all over the world. This helpful and hopeful little guide is comprised of twelve carefully crafted lessons that are designed to help us let go of the past and stay focused on the present as we step confidently toward the future. Renowned founder and teacher of Attitudinal Healing, Dr. Gerald Jampolsky reminds us that the only impediments to the life we yearn for are the limitations imposed on us by our own minds. Revealing our true selves, the essence of which is love, is a matter of releasing those limited and limiting thoughts. LOVE IS LETTING GO OF FEAR has guided millions of readers toward self-healing with this deeply powerful yet profoundly simple message. Embrace it with an open mind and an open heart and let it guide you to a life in which fear, doubt, and negativity are replaced with optimism, joy, and love.