Page "Fear" Paragraph 11

From an evolutionary psychology perspective, different fears may be different adaptations that have been useful in our evolutionary past.

They may have developed during different time periods.

Some fears, such as fear of heights, may be common to all mammals and developed during the mesozoic period.

Other fears, such as fear of snakes, may be common to all simians and developed during the cenozoic time period.

Still others, such as fear of mice and insects, may be unique to humans and developed during the paleolithic and neolithic time periods ( when mice and insects become important carriers of infectious diseases and harmful for crops and stored foods ).