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Fear & Its Ability to Supersede Self-Preservation
Here is the introduction and first three chapters of a book I am working on. It is still in the developing stage and I anticipate it will be undergoing a lot of changes before it is anywhere near complete. I decided to post it and see what you all thought! Please give me some feedback, I'd really appreciate it!!
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Introduction
It has been said one too many times by philosophers and psychologists that, with no exceptions, regardless of background, lifestyle, or any other differentiating factor, there is one thing that the indomitable human spirit perpetually and fiercely seeks above all else: survival. It has been written countless times that everyone has an intrinsic and supreme desire for self-preservation, a desire that cannot be subjugated under any circumstances. What, then, is the explanation for the ever-rising number of teenage suicides worldwide? What can be said in response to the hundreds of terrorists in the Middle East who strap bombs to themselves and blow up entire city blocks merely to further a totalitarian dictator’s diabolical plan for oppression and control? What has happened to their inherent desire for survival? Manifestly, the human spirit’s insatiable thirst for self-preservation, as potent as it may be, is not altogether impregnable. There clearly exists some element or entity capable of superseding this thirst, capable of compelling a human being to willingly strip himself of his own life. This element is fundamental and ubiquitous in human nature, and it is through this fundamentality that it is capable of proliferating without bound, spanning the globe, and ultimately (though only in certain cases) overpowering human nature’s innate instinct to stay alive. This element is fear.
Chapter One – The Manifestations and Perils of Fear
Without sharp claws, beaks, or fangs, human beings were able to claw their way to the top of the food chain by utilizing the mental weapons we have been blessed with: rationality, common sense, perspective, level-headedness, daring, equanimity, intelligence, a sense of humor, self-esteem, and sagacity, among others. Fear is virulent beyond our wildest imaginations because it is the only thing capable of stripping mankind of every single one of these mental weapons. Anyone who has experienced pure, untainted fear can attest to the veracity of this statement. Human beings are extremely susceptible to fear. We lose our composure instantaneously, make incredibly rash decisions, and behave in an almost bestial manner. Rationality, usually predominant in a person’s thought process and decision-making, disappears. To a person experiencing fear, the rationality (or lack thereof) of a fear is irrelevant, because the fear is real, and rational, enough to them – and that is all that truly matters. In short, irrational fears are fears nonetheless. Thus, man’s all-purpose solution to problems, rationalizing them away, is rendered useless.
Another dangerous aspect of this enigmatic adversary is the fact that it exists in countless different forms. Perhaps the most prevalent of these forms is the fear of ostracism. Human beings have an inherent craving for acceptance among their peers and are willing to go to great lengths to ensure it. Thus, it is no surprise that the threat, or even merely the possibility, of not gaining acceptance and approval can and does instill a great deal of anxiety and fear into many people. When this fear is realized, and sometimes even when it is not, those experiencing this fear are galvanized to alter themselves drastically in a frantic attempt to gain the acceptance that they have been denied. When acceptance is not achieved, they will often slide deeper and deeper into a hole of depression that is categorically difficult to get out of. Not only are these people denied the satisfaction of positive interaction with fellow people, they often must endure negative mockery in addition. Because mankind craves acceptance so vehemently, consistent ostracism and degradation over a long period of time can eventually build up extremely powerful pressure on a person’s already greatly wounded psyche. This pressure can become so overwhelming that one’s once-supreme desire for self-preservation is surpassed by their need for refuge and escape – by any means necessary. Regrettably, this escapism often takes the form of suicide.
Another extremely common form of fear is the fear of the unknown. This manifestation of fear is inherently paradoxical, because if the object of fear is indeed unknown, then there is absolutely no reason that one should assume it is deserving of their fear; nonetheless, human nature is riddled with paradoxes, and so the paradox of this fear does not make it any less poignant. Fear of the unknown, tantamount to fear of what is different, has perhaps inflicted more wide-scale damage on the human race in the past few hundred years than any other type of fear, because it is this type of fear that has fueled racial segregation and discrimination worldwide. Though geographical location, language, and culture may vary drastically globally, the one constant thread, spanning continents and centuries, that connects the countless oppressive acts and racial crimes committed on the face of this planet is the motivation for these events: fear of the unknown. One of the most deeply rooted fundamental instincts in man is the aversion to change. Thus, when a new group or denomination of people arrives in a land already inhabited by a separate group of people, it is the visceral instinct of the original inhabitants to eschew and repress the new arrivals. The original inhabitants feel impulsively threatened by the presence of this new group, regardless of the fact that this group has yet to do anything concrete off of which to base this feeling of threat. The new arrivals may be ordinary, respectful, and moral human beings undeserving of such negative treatment; nevertheless, the original inhabitants treat them in this manner, not because of who the new arrivals are per say, but because they are fueled by their inherent fear of the unknown. In certain cases, the antagonism between these two groups will grow so immense that war and violence will erupt, and the ensuing clash will not and cannot die down until one group has conquered the other and has emerged unquestionably victorious. The British colonists, forging their identity as Americans, exemplified this in their struggle with and eventual conquest of the “Native American Indians”; Asian explorers from several different countries epitomized this in their discovery of Japan and merciless subjugation of the Ainu people native to the land; the British, infamous for their roles as conquerors, illustrated this in their ruthless suppression of the Aboriginal people of Australia. Since the beginning of time, the fear of the unknown has galvanized human beings from every corner of the globe and from every walk of life to fear, despise, and tyrannize others unjustifiably. Regrettably, it will continue to tear the human race apart until we find a way to stem and control our own savage instincts.
In addition, there are countless other manifestations of fear lumped together under the title “phobias”; these manifestations pertain mainly to fear of specific objects or concepts, such as spiders or heights. People do not fear their phobias because of what or who these phobias are; they fear them because of the way they make these people feel about themselves. As such, these fears are relatively easy to conquer since the object of fear need not be changed; only the person’s perception of this object, which the person is in full control of, must be changed. The only obstacle, then, that a person must surmount in order to overcome a phobia is himself, which, although potentially difficult, can always be accomplished with sufficient effort and focus. For this reason, phobias are perhaps the most benign form of fear.
Chapter two: Fear as a Weapon
Those perceptive enough to realize the colossal power that fear has over people and depraved enough to harness this power and exploit it for their own gain can use fear as a weapon; and, in certain cases, it can be one of the most dangerous weapons in existence. Countless unscrupulous rulers and tyrants throughout history have utilized fear as a means to oppress and control, from Genghis Khan to Julius Caesar, from Adolf Hitler to Chairman Mao, from Fidel Castro to Josef Stalin, from Mussolini to Saddam Hussein, and myriads more. Some have met with success, while others have failed spectacularly. However, while it is undoubtedly a potent weapon, fear is very difficult to employ; it must be wielded proficiently and effectively in order to produce desirable (if they can be called that) results. If one wishes to control a group of people through fear, it is not enough to merely imbue the chosen populace with a general feeling of fear; that will result in nothing more than a state of general turmoil and pandemonium. Instead, it is necessary to instill this fear in a precise manner. To be more specific, the fear must be employed such that there is no doubt in the mind of the populace that failure to comply with the ruler’s orders will result in consequences that they sincerely and vehemently do not want; these consequences must not be limited to the scorn or disapproval of the ruler. Instead, these consequences must appear to the group of people as paramount to their own survival. It is, needless to say, a very difficult task to convince a large contingent of people that their very survival is inconsequential in comparison to anything, especially in light of mankind’s inherent desire for self-preservation. It is at this conundrum, the conundrum of how to employ fear in such a manner, that notorious dictators of history have taken their own paths, paths created and paved by their own depraved imagination and creativity. Some, Saddam Hussein included, have approached this challenge from the religious standpoint, offering spiritual salvation extending beyond normal human life should the general population capitulate to his supreme rule and obey his every whim, and threatening eternal damnation should they refuse. Others, like the savage Genghis Khan, exploited mankind’s sense of community, threatening to gruesomely murder innocent civilians and raze entire villages to the ground should a single person refuse to join his massive army. But regardless of what techniques are used, the bottom line is that, in order for a sizeable group of people to be controlled through fear, these people must genuinely fear the potential of something negative happening should they refuse to be controlled AND must genuinely believe that preventing that something from happening is more important than saving their own lives. It is in this way that fear ultimately supersedes mankind’s desire for self-preservation.
Unfortunately, manipulating people in the manner described above is possible in a society such as our own, and because it is possible, countless tyrannical malefactors throughout history have been allowed to seize control of entire countries and peoples, extending their autocratic reach across continents, destroying lives, cultures, and humanity in the process. But perhaps more alarming is the fact that this technique of manipulating people through fear has spread to and is employed, albeit in a more subtle and less deleterious manner, in an arena that directly affects us and, as such, hits home a whole lot harder: corporations.
Chapter Three: Fear and Consumption
The key to success in any business or entrepreneurial endeavor is always the same: one must be able to manipulate people into doing what is most beneficial for one’s endeavor, be it buying a product or telling their friends of one’s business; and, one must be able to manipulate these people into wanting to do it of their own accord. This, however, is easier said than done. Because mankind in general is essentially selfish and unlikely to help another unless they themselves gain or profit in some way, the only way to consistently accomplish this is to give people some incentive to do what one wants them to. Businesses and corporations, armed with this piece of knowledge, have tried various tactics to advertise their business and boost their profit with the concept of incentive in mind. Double-your-money-back gimmicks, 10% off tickets to local theme parks, convoluted point systems with different prizes offered for different amounts of points; the methods were creative, varied, and ingenious…but not satisfactorily successful. They finally found a failsafe incentive, capable of affecting and touching people of all ages, ethnicities, and genders: fear.
The idea is simple, and brilliant in its simplicity. Instill in people the fear of something negative happening to them, and then offer one’s product as a miraculous means of preventing that “something” from happening. These corporations attack the teenage demographic with acne creams, “hip” clothes, condoms, and makeup, implicitly threatening rejection and ostracism by the opposite sex unless they purchase the products offered. They exploit the aging but still promiscuous generation’s doubts of their own “abilities” by offering miracle pills like Viagra and Levitra that guarantee enhanced sexual performance and promise that “you will be ready” when the time comes. They earnestly warn the populace of an enigmatic epidemic ravaging the country, spread by mosquitoes, and then offer a specialized brand of bug spray guaranteed to thwart these malignant insects, imbuing parents and caretakers across the country with the sentiment that they are obligated to purchase the product in order to protect their offspring, and that not purchasing it would be vastly negligent. They assail the self-conscious and weight-conscious with tacit warnings that becoming overweight is not only virtually inevitable, but also something to be feared and avoided at all costs; then, they present their miracle diet, their miracle juice, or their miracle pill that guarantees a great, healthy, and skinny body. These companies create a feeling of fear among their desired clientele, and then prey on that fear to make a profit. Fear fuels consumption; fear boosts profit; fear pays for the yachts, the sports cars, and the Hollywood mansions of CEO’s nationwide. It is a decidedly unscrupulous and lamentable practice, but it is the American people themselves that perpetuate its efficacy by continually allowing themselves to be goaded into a state of irrational fear. And that, perhaps, is the most frightening thing of all.
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