我們唯一需要害怕的，就是害怕本身 The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. — Franklin D. Roosevelt

理性與感性 Sense and sensibility

焦傳金教授 Professor Chiao

我認為恐懼其實是一個跟其他情緒性質有點不太一樣的情緒，由老師上課所說，恐懼為快速、無意識所產生的身體反應，而且由杏仁核負責辨識與掌控，若是杏仁核受損，此人便無法分辨出恐懼的表情，甚至不知道如何表現恐懼，甚至對危險沒有反應。

在閱讀了老師第一堂課推薦的「大腦開竅手冊」後，看到美國前總統羅斯福這句話，引發了我的思考。人類對於恐懼是可以有記憶的，而且就算陰影發生在沒有長期記憶的3歲之前，在情緒記憶中，是可以儲存製造恐懼的環境或是事件的元素，讓小孩長大後遇到類似情境，會不由自主表現出恐懼的反應，即使他不知道為甚麼。我認為就是由於「恐懼」本身，帶來了我們的身體反應，所以我們不一定是害怕那個陰影本身(鬼屋、毛毛蟲……)，只是因為那個「恐懼」已經儲存在我們腦中，以至於每次遇到都讓我們感到害怕。

不過我一直不認為害怕就是膽小，會害怕表示身體告訴自己這個活動會有危險，好好保護自己。因此，下次不敢搭雲霄飛車時，勇敢拒絕吧!

I consider afraid is an emotion that has a little difference from others. According to professor’s introduction of afraid, it is said to be controlled by the Amygdala. If the Amygdala was harmed, the person can not identify the facial expression of fear and also have no idea to present fear and has no reaction to danger.

After having read the book, Welcome to Your Brain：Why You Lose Your Car Keys but Never Forget How to Drive and Other Puzzles of Everyday Life，which is recommended by professor in the first class. The word said by the former president Franklin D. Roosevelt, has triggered my thinking. As the fear situation and element will be remembered through emotional memories though we don’t have long-term memories before 3. That is, after we grow up, we sometimes show fear to something but we don’t know why.

This is what I have considered that it might be true that the fear brings us to feel afraid. We perhaps do not afraid the terrible things themselves (haunted house, caterpillar……etc.) we feel afraid because of the fear memories.

Hence, I always do not think fear as cowardly. Our bodies tell us to keep distance to something have dangerous risks through fear, so we won’t hurt ourselves. Consequently, next time refuse bravely if you don’t want to play the roller coaster!