What are atavistic fears?

Atavistic fears represent fears shared by most of us and our ancestors.. We have been aware of them almost since our existence, because they are closely linked to it. Thus, they have been maintained and transmitted from generation to generation and, regardless of what we advance, it is very likely that they will remain.

The word atavistic refers to the ancestral past or archaic. Therefore, when we talk about atavistic fears we are talking about a remote, very remote past. It is worth saying how interesting it is to explore these ancient fears, as well as to give an account of the means we have used to manage them.

In principle, fear is an adaptive response to risk or danger.. This is an internal alert that warns us and invites us to adopt a cautious position. Therefore, it plays a very important role in the preservation of life and integrity. Atavistic fears are a collective adaptation to the most serious threats.

The 5 great atavistic fears

There are several fears that are universal. However, five of them have definitely been present in different times and cultures; They have been transversal through space and time. In fact, there are many powers that have used them to consolidate or maintain themselves. Such fears are as follows.

Fear of being buried alive or losing autonomy completely

This is one of the great atavistic fears, which in principle is defined as being buried alive. However, by extension, it is associated with any form of entrapment, paralysis or limitation that prevents action, but maintaining consciousness. The scary thing is that: being aware of radical helplessness in the face of a death threat.

Fear of being attacked when we are alone

No matter how lonely or independent we are, deep down we have a part of us that is purely social and that feels much more comfortable when it knows that there are other animals like it very close.

The human being is a weak mammal that has largely managed to survive thanks to the group. Receive great contributions from groups that are no longer here and build realities for those who come. When we are alone, in a forest, for example, the atavistic fear of being attacked comes to the fore.

Fear of bad smells

This is one of the atavistic fears that is expressed above all as rejection. A bad smell, under normal conditions, generates repulsion because it refers to that which is decomposing and which, therefore, is dangerous to health and life. If an unknown bad smell is detected, a strong feeling of fear may arise, as it is associated with risk and aggression.

Fear of mutilation or loss of unity

This is not a frequent fear in our train of thought and yet it is one of the atavistic fears that manifests itself most frequently. Mutilation not only has to do with the physical loss of a body part, but also with the loss of its function.. Therefore, the fear of illness is part of it. It is an attempt to preserve our body as we know and understand it.

Fear of sexual assault

It is present in women and men. Women fear being sexually violated because they know that this desire is present in many men. These men, for their part, fear that the women they love will be sexually assaulted, and, to a lesser extent, that they will be victims of humiliation of this type. It is one of the most obvious atavistic fears.

The antidotes to atavistic fears

Much of the configuration of our buildings, cities and social and cultural systems have been designed to ward off these atavistic fears. Religion and science are also an answer to these universal fears from which no one escapes.

Other ways to overcome these fears is by not thinking about them, creating situations that take us away from that idea or distract us to such an extent that those fears do not touch us. Today’s society has emphasized this path and that is why the universe of distractions and entertainment is so wide.

However, No matter how much we get them out of our minds, those fears are and will be there.. They remind us that we are curious and ingenious mammals, but fragile and mortal. We talk about our most important paradoxes.

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