The development of normal fear: a review

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Comparative Psychology
• Behavioral Biology

Background:

• Fear development in young mammals is a critical aspect of behavioral ontogeny.
• Understanding fear acquisition provides insights into adaptive and maladaptive emotional development.
• Early life experiences significantly influence the trajectory of fear responses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize existing literature on the ontogeny of fear in human and mammalian young.
• To elucidate the sequence and timing of fear development.
• To examine the interplay of various factors influencing fear acquisition.

Main Methods:

• Literature synthesis of observational and experimental studies.
• Analysis of fear development across different mammalian species, including humans.
• Examination of factors such as attachment, maturation, genetics, and experience.

Main Results:

• Fear development follows an ontogenetic sequence, characterized by a rise and fall of specific fears post-attachment.
• Key fears include those related to heights, novelty, strangers, and separation.
• Interactions between experiential, maturational, and genetic factors are crucial in shaping these fears.

Conclusions:

• Fear acquisition in young mammals is a dynamic, multi-factorial process.
• The ontogenetic sequence of fear provides a framework for understanding developmental psychopathology.
• Further research integrating genetic, maturational, and experiential data is warranted.