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Bob Van Oosterhout MA, LLP, LMSW
Fear-Based Thinking Bring Truth to Fear Bob Van Oosterhout MA, LLP, LMSW Bringtruthtofear.org
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Three Kinds of Fear Natural Fear Mental Fear Structural Fear
Gets our attention, energizes us for action Lasts only as long as we focus on a threat Mental Fear Same effects as natural fear Lasts as long as we think about it Can keep us stuck in crisis mode & limit capacity for clear thinking Structural Fear Build up of muscle tension in reaction to fear & trauma Stress increases tension and reactivity Can be gradually resolved when Balance is maintained
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Fear puts us in Crisis Mode
Everything not essential for survival shuts down in crisis mode Narrow focus - don’t ask questions or seek to understand large picture or relevant details Mind is pulled to what worked before Accept simplistic solutions without analysis The unknown is seen as a potential threat Either/Or Right/Wrong Good/Evil For/Against Seek power over perceived threats The end justifies the means Willing to give power to strong leader who claims to keep us safe
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Fear based thinking is a mental habit that persists when there is no immediate threat It narrows our focus, restricts learning, blocks compassion and creativity and makes us more self-centered, impatient, and judgmental It creates emotionally based adversarial opinions that are rigidly held and immune to logic
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Your Brain is Forming – Road Analogy
Thoughts and memories form pathways in our brain (connections between neurons) that are like roads Repeating a thought or experience reinforces the pathway At any given moment, we are either creating new roads (pathways) or reinforcing old ones Fear “paves” the “road” and creates easy access Repeating similar thought patterns turns a “road” it into a “highway” and eventually an “expressway” with limited exits & entrances Over time, Fear-Based Thinking closes our minds to input and learning and the “expressway” turns into “railroad tracks” which stop us from asking questions, limit our capacity to see and think clearly, and define our view of reality
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Fear-Based Thinking Leads To
Certainty Fixed Attitudes Rigidity Closed Mind & Heart Distrust of unknown Ignoring history, context, & implications Shallow thinking Short-Term Thinking Defensiveness Emotional Reactivity and/or Numbness Impatience Intolerance Divisiveness Need for Control Over Caution Inability to view from other perspectives Self-Centeredness Self-righteousness Tendency to quickly and harshly judge others Making quick assumptions Isolation Exclusion
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Fear Based Thinking Restricts
Seeing the large picture and relevant details Decision-Making Empathy Planning Problem Solving Reflection Creativity Cooperation Asking for advice or help
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Fear –Based Thinking Affects
Politics Media Business Education Leadership Management Relationships Social Interaction Community Involvement
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Fear-Based Thinking is a Highly Effective Political and Media Tactic
It draws and keeps our attention We don’t ask questions or seek information to understand complicated issues It generates support for simplistic solutions that don’t address complex problems It forms opinions based on emotion that are immune to logical argument It paints the opposition as dangerous and solidifies ongoing support It leads voters to seek leaders who appear strong without questioning their qualifications or whether they have our best interests at heart
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Sources of Fear-Based Thinking
Media, Entertainment, Popular Culture Political Propaganda Stress and exhaustion Trauma Habit
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Brief History of Fear-Based Thinking
Fear has been used by despots and tyrants to gain and maintain power for centuries It was used in the US in the build up to WWI Hitler mastered it in the 1930’s and 40’s It was used effectively in the US election in 1968 It was significantly expanded in the early 1990’s and exported to other democratic nations whose leaders hired US political consultants It began to dominate US politics in 2004 with a serious escalation in 2009
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Restore Balance & Ask Questions
Solution: A Grass-Roots Effort to Recognize Fear-Based Thinking and Encourage and Assist People to: Restore Balance Manage stress Stop Tensing and Breathe Get sufficient rest Avoid overwork videos at & Ask Questions Seek to understand the large picture and relevant details Vertical (evidence, source, reasoning) Horizontal (history, context, implications, other views) Heart (effect on relationships)
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