Natural selection and fear regulation mechanisms

Randolph Nesse, J. L. Abelson

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Expectations can facilitate rapid fear conditioning and this may explain some phenomena that have been attributed to preparedness. However, preparedness remains the best explanation for some aspects of clinical phobias and the difficulty of creating fears of modern dangers. Rapid fear conditioning based on expectancy is not an alternative to an evolutionary explanation, but has, like preparedness, been shaped by natural selection.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)309-310
Number of pages2
JournalBehavioral and Brain Sciences
Volume18
Issue number2
StatePublished - 1995
Externally publishedYes

Fingerprint

Genetic Selection
fearfulness
natural selection
conditioning
Fear
conditioned behavior
Phobic Disorders
regulation
Conditioning (Psychology)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Neuroscience(all)
  • Psychology(all)
  • Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology

Cite this

Natural selection and fear regulation mechanisms. / Nesse, Randolph; Abelson, J. L.

In: Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Vol. 18, No. 2, 1995, p. 309-310.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Nesse, R & Abelson, JL 1995, 'Natural selection and fear regulation mechanisms', Behavioral and Brain Sciences, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 309-310.
Nesse R, Abelson JL. Natural selection and fear regulation mechanisms. Behavioral and Brain Sciences. 1995;18(2):309-310.
Nesse, Randolph ; Abelson, J. L. / Natural selection and fear regulation mechanisms. In: Behavioral and Brain Sciences. 1995 ; Vol. 18, No. 2. pp. 309-310.
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