For some people, choosing to be scared can be fun. Going through a haunted house might make them scream, then laugh! They like to be scared because they like the way their body changes. For others, that feeling takes their mind off their worries. "You're probably not thinking about your homework that's due next week when you're playing a game of hide-and-seek," says Dr. Margee Kerr, a sociologist (社会学家) from the University of Pittsburgh.
Being scared is not always a treat. When a balloon pops, we may jump. Our heart beats faster and harder, and we breathe faster. That's because when we meet something we don't know or something alarming, some reactions are triggered (触发) to help prepare us for the unknown. Once the body is alert (警觉的), the brain decides whether or not the danger is real.
Fear is a tool that the brain uses to keep the body safe. It tells a person to hide, run away, or protect oneself. Faster heartbeat and breathing send more blood and oxygen to the muscles (肌肉) so they're ready when they're needed.
Our memories also help protect us. We keep a close eye on babies because they don't understand what might hurt them. As babies grow, they learn what's unsafe, and their brains store those memories. Then their brains use fear to warn them of dangers. "We don't want to be fearless," Dr. Kerr says. "It's good to have a healthy sense of what's dangerous!"
____ Experiences can lead to long-lasting fears that may stop a person from trying new things. We're born with the ability to feel fear, but what we're afraid of is learned. A long-lasting fear can mean you've had a bad experience and your brain doesn't want you to have it again. If a dog bit someone, that person might feel afraid of all dogs.
Luckily, many people have beat their own fears. Here's one way: Instead of listening to their imagination, they learn the facts about anything that seems scary. Knowledge can help a person feel less afraid.
