Fear is an emotion
induced by a perceived
threat which causes
entities to quickly pull
away from it and
usually hide. It is a
basic survival
mechanism occurring
in response to a specific
stimulus, such as pain or
the threat of danger. In
short, fear is the ability
to recognize danger
leading to an urge to
confront it or flee from
it (also known as the
fight-or-flight response)
but in extreme cases of
fear ( horror and terror)
a freeze or paralysis
response is possible.
Some psychologists
such as John B. Watson,
Robert Plutchik, and
Paul Ekman have
suggested that there is
only a small set of basic
or innate emotions and
that fear is one of them.
This hypothesized set
includes such emotions
as joy, sadness, and
anger. Fear should be
distinguished from the
emotion anxiety