Nature of Fear - Survival Lessons From the Wild

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.

About the author

Daniel T. Blumstein is Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he codirects the Evolutionary Medicine Program. He is an elected Fellow of the Animal Behavior Society.

Summary

Animal behavior expert Daniel T. Blumstein delves into the evolutionary origins and diverse ecological contexts of fear. Fear protects organisms from threats, but at a cost in health and productivity. The various species manage these costs differently, providing lessons for humans as we seek to benefit from fear without succumbing to panic.

Product details

• Authors: Daniel T Blumstein, Daniel T. Blumstein, Blumstein Daniel T.
• Publisher: Harvard University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 30.09.2020
• EAN: 9780674916487
• ISBN: 978-0-674-91648-7
• No. of pages: 256
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Psychology > Theoretical psychology; Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Biology > Zoology; Non-fiction book > Psychology, esoterics, spirituality, anthroposophy > Psychology: general, reference works; Evolution, popular science, SCIENCE / Life Sciences / Evolution, PSYCHOLOGY / Psychopathology / Anxieties & Phobias, PSYCHOLOGY / Evolutionary Psychology, SCIENCE / Life Sciences / Zoology / Ethology (Animal Behavior), PSYCHOLOGY / Animal & Comparative Psychology, Popular psychology, Animal behaviour, Psychological theory, systems, schools and viewpoints, Behavioural theory (Behaviourism), Psychological theory & schools of thought, Behaviourism, Behavioural theory, Ethology and animal behaviour