The Human Behaviour (III); The Influence of Fear

As this series draws to a close, I’ve covered the various causes of Human Behavioural changes and observations to the complexity about this complex mechanism that is within all of us.

Being a conclusive instalment, I’ve decided to tackle an issue on human behaviour that has been brought up in my previous instalments, namely influencing and the element of fear in one’s mindset and how it affects the human behaviour.

Mentioned in the 1st instalment (refer to article, “The Human Behaviour (I); The Social Setting”), fear is an attribute, more rather, that alters the human behaviour in ways often unnoticed from an onlooker’s perspective.

Fear is a scary (no pun intended) attribute that crafts a person’s mindset, which is ultimately, interrelated to his or her behavioural habits.

With reference to the previous instalment, fear causes changes personality-wise and also behavioural wise, for example, in tough and awkward social settings as mentioned.

It is thus no doubt that fear is a powerful tool used by people of power or authority in our modern society to, somehow or rather, “shape” and “control” the minds of its citizens; of which I’ll elaborate more later on.

The second factor in ultimate human behavioural alteration is the aspect of influence.

Mentioned in the 2nd instalment (refer to article, “The Human Behaviour (II); The Change”), the somewhat controversial issue of influence plays a part in human behavioural changes and structures.

Strong influences in the society, culture or even race can ultimately affect human behaviour whether adversely or otherwise. However, influences or rather the act of influencing, is a powerful tool along with persuasion as it is able to shape changes in the human behaviour.

Won’t this be a little scary if its used to “programme” the masses? To have your perceptions controlled through persuasion and influences?

Evidently, I’ve decided to do a final wrap-up on these two simple (but complicated in its own way) aspects as derived from my previous instalments mainly because I’m particularly affected and drawn to the fact that human behaviour can be controlled, shaped, fabricated and even manipulated to such an extent that it changes their entire perception and mindset, which forms a chain effect that in turn, affects the human behaviour.

Sounds like an awful lot doesn’t it?

Sadly in our society nowadays, the image of fear is often anchored to the technique of influence as these two aspects and attributes match side by side, like how a puzzle fits perfectly together.

What this means is that this method, as I would like to call it, is an effective catalyst, a potent mix, to control and shape, as mentioned.

Firstly, let us break down it, word for word.

The term influence is defined as “the action or process of producing effects on the actions, behaviour, opinions, etc of others” (as cited from dictionary.com).

What this means, in laymen terms, is that influence is basically a stage by stage process which coincides with the technique of persuasion as persuasion influences people to believe or even do a particular task or matter.

The term fear is defined as “an emotional response to threats and dangers” (as cited from Wikipedia.com).

Note the word emotional, used in its definition. Fear is often associated with emotions and emotions automatically constitutes into the mind which links to the behaviour.

This is a complex chain but logical in a sense as our behaviour is very much based on our emotions and perceptions. After all, behaviour is what gives humans their character and their unique facade due to the diversity of each and every single human mind.

Putting the two attributes together is interesting and powerful then. Think of the technique of influence as a gun and fear as its bullets; its the same relationship.
Without the gun, the bullets would be useless (unless loaded into another gun) and vice versa, which can be said in a more metaphorical sense in this case of influences and fear.

By inculcating the influence of fear in one’s mind, their actions or behaviour in this case, will be motored on by their “emotional response” which in this case, is fear, and results in certain changes in the human behaviour.
Influencing fear into people thus, is like a “loaded gun” and that means it is deadly and effective at the same time.

Though it may seem common, the influence of fear in our daily lives is so subtle that in many cases, we subconsciously accept these incoming fears and believe them, in doing so succumbing to the influence of fear, which may or may not contain truth, depending on the situation.

Over the pass few days, I’ve tried to observe such examples of the “subtle details” which indirectly, uses fear to influence. I had to find a source and had to observe people’s reaction after exposure to the source and how their behaviour would change in contrast.

And for that, I turned to the mass medium of the 21 century: the television.
The media is actually a powerful influence in people’s mind. From the high intellects, to the less fortunate, these people turn to the most common medium to gain information, exposure and also unknowingly, influence.

It helps conceptualise the fact that most people actually put their utmost trust in the media and the information it delivers.

Thus, as if on express, different influences get brought across very quickly in our modern society and that’s why human behaviour and perceptions can be so easily dictated via the media and its various mediums.

Though my observations in the outside world were in vain, I turned to school and finally found my due observation.

“Bowling for Columbine”, “An Inconvenient Truth” and “Fahrenheit 9/11”. Three
controversial films in their own rights, were shown to the classes, mainly due to educational purposes and also, to stimulate the students’ thinking in such controversies.

These films were very powerful in a sense that sensitive issues were tackled headfirst and information about various conspiracies were uncovered. Persuasion and influences were used deeply in these films too, particularly the influence of fear.
Though it may not seem as an accurate sample size, I did a rough observation on the behaviour of my fellow class and course mates who viewed the film and there was an astonishing difference before and after the film, behavioural wise.

Most of them reacted strongly as compared to their usual nature before watching such films as they were purely convinced. There were a handful though, that were sceptical about the things mentioned and were by far, unconvinced.

They voiced their opinions out after the films as we held a little discussion for each film screened and some of them underwent a distinctive change in behaviour.
Perhaps their believe was shaken or that they were deeply influenced by the speech. But I chose to think otherwise.

“Fear is what feeds the mind of horrors that can otherwise be devised” A quote that I came up (with a little influence from the film, Fahrenheit 9/11) that I feel, captures the essence of the “fear factor” in this case.

The aspect and issue of fear was what my observational subjects were probably exposed to, whether to a large or small extent, which influenced and persuaded them of their thoughts and mindset, thus resulting in the change of behaviour.

Many of the films mentioned have the fear of uncertainly hidden amongst the elaborated words that were flourished in the content which were subconsciously absorbed by viewers. This was probably because most of the films dealt their respective controversies with a certain degree of doubt.

Humans are not comfortable when they’re dealing with things that they are unsure of due to their nature and thus, an apt aspect of fear used.
However, the behaviour tabulated is subjective to individuals as some perceive it differently.

For some, their behaviour “shrinks” which will then result in them retreating and contemplating about what was shown to them. For others though, their behaviour strengthens and they gain a certain boost and motivation to make a change and difference and to evict the horror that they were presented with.

And this brings me to my next objective of pointing out the different benefits of fear.

Yes, fear will often reap negative effects for some, but like the mentioned above, certain individuals see fear as a source of motivation (refer to article, “Screaming Fans; The Motivational Force and Ambition”), which is largely ideal.

The motivation for improvement is fluid as for some, it is hard to find but for others, it comes naturally. By being able to turn negative aspects like fear, into positive aspects like motivation, I find that particularly enriching.

This will also mean a change in behaviour; a change for a better one. Which is largely due to the cultivation of motivation as motivation breeds positive behaviour; a vital aspect for improvement.

But this motivation for change is subjective, depending on the context as not all motivation for changes are positive and good natured. This is also where values and morals come into play as people are tested to tell what’s right to wrong, what’s good to bad.

People thus capitalises on this detail and uses fear as an influence; to gain motivation for change.

I’d like to think of the human behaviour as a litre of water, in a metaphoric sense.
It can take almost any form, as it is easily influenced to changes and it can take any shape, as it is unique to each individual.

Many people don’t pay attention to the delicate details of that “litre of water” and when it changes its form or shape but I find it particularly interesting to chapter its changes and find out about the causes and effects of it all.

Our mind and our behaviour is a very versatile aspect of our “internal motherboard”. Foreign influences (such as fear) can alter its balance and its function.

I hope that we’ll all be able to take full control of our minds and thus, free ourselves from the various external aspects that our mind is faced with which affects behaviour.

“Life is full of daily complexities and mysteries...” (taken from “The Human Behaviour (I); The Social Setting”) and the human mind and behaviour is one such example.

I hope that this series has indeed gained a better insight into such “complexities and mysteries” of life and enrich one’s perception from a personal viewpoint.