Are we NATURALLY more afraid of the dark?

[LovingJo]

For instance: this is a picture I took, just after midnight... Not one single person, to be seen.

Now, I know there are SEVERAL environment factors here, that humanity have put in place..
Eg: work DAYS vs work nights, Sleeping when it's dark, etc...
BUT you have to admit, that the risk factor goes up, by some, at night time.
Is this purely down to environmental factors?
Is it down to safety concerns?
It is to the not knowing?
Even through random noises, they sound 10 times louder, because it's so much quieter around...
I used to LOVE the dark, but not so much anymore. How weird is that? 🤔

Yes, I think we're NATURALLY afraid of the dark - please elaborate..

Maybe we are - please elaborate..

I don't think we're NATURALLY afraid of the dark - please elaborate

Other/I don't know what to think/I came for the results

Updates

+1 y

Just FYI, I LOVE the dark too... But it's just something about the way it feels sometimes, out there

[Leapfrog00]

We could be. There's no rule that says people have to sleep at night. They just do it because businesses operate during the day. Some places operate at night though.

The dark is scary. You can't see everything, and there are dangerous people everywhere. I wouldn't dare go out at night where I live with all the drug dealers and sex offenders. Anyone can get kidnapped and go to the sex trade.

I used to like the dark better myself. I've always been a night owl though. The dark seems calmer and more peaceful, plus, it's not as hot during the day in the summer.

[LovingJo]

💯 ❤️

[nolabels]

Clearly, from your picture, your idea of what is "dark" is quite different than mine. A brightly lit campus is not my idea of "dark". That's just my interpretation of that photo, though.

That's fine. I'd say that the word "dark" is a highly variable term and is subjective from person to person. That being said, "darkness" relative to one's comfort level limits one's easy identification of one's surroundings and can cause feelings of trepidation.

One's own fears, rational or not, can then cause one to imagine things that may or may not be there.

Is heightened caution justifiable in such conditions? Absolutely.

Sure, people can be naturally, logically afraid of the dark.

Great question.

[menina]

I guess we are. There are many places that don't work at night, there are things that you can't do when it's dark. Also, many crimes take place at night. The fact that everything gets weird or unknown at night it's also scary.

[DeeDeeDeVour]

To me, dark doesn't necessarily mean night.

No visibility and no access to any source of light in a pitch dark place is what I'm afraid of.

I won't deny that I am.

[OlderAndWiser]

The biggest part of the craziness in the world happens after the sun goes down.

[Soteris]

No, I do not believe so. While we do have a vivid imagination that loves to imagine monsters and whatnot in darkness where we can't see I do not think this is ultimately definitive. I think we are very adaptable, in that we can actually adopt a nighttime living. Things like hunter gatherers back before civilization choosing to hunt at night for example.

To prove my point, there are actually places on earth where we are forced to live both in full days and full nights. Specifically, the polar regions. During the times where they have night for 24 hours a day there is a spike in depression and irritation among people but its not too bad. People still function as a society and do things like go to school or work.

[exitseven]

We are naturally afraid of the dark. We are wired that way. Humans lack the visual acuity that other animals have as far as night vision is concerned. We are at a disadvantage. Also if we cannot see there are all kinds of dangers out there. Not just from animals but other humans and other things like pitfalls, cliffs, and sharp objects. It is natures way of keeping us safe.

[Zatsuma]

I was never afraid to walk home in the dark in the UK, time has just ruined it with crime, then add in the movies and Bam... Don't be out alone after the sun sets!

[Kaneki05]

Naturally we are, because primitively it's always been a danger to us. If you had walked around as a caveman when it was night you would likely be eaten by a wolf or some beast. Who can much easier see and smell.
Therefore naturally we would never want to go out at night.

But humans number 1 trait is always going against our own nature so myself prefers the night to day anytime, and see's more risk in the day than night.

[OfMiceandMen]

Hehehe... wouldn't be good at my job if I was afraid of the dark. I sometimes spend evenings in the spring and summer out till 2 in the morning listening to owls etc. I often hear wolves, moose, bears, deer, etc., moving about in the night.

I do these surveys completely alone and sometimes 50-80 km from civilization. So no residences or businesses whatsoever.

I've heard everything in the night that goes bump. LOL

[Reorx]

Not the dark that people fear, it's whats concealed or what could be; "the unknown". We have a natural incilination as humans to impose control over things we cannot in order to construct a "safer reality". The dark is a fine example, another's death or time.

[BoopBoopBeep]

When we were running from large predators in the forest it made sense. Those predators can see better than us at night. There comes a time when YOU are the scariest thing in the night, in which case it no longer makes sense.

[Mansearching]

Depends on person. But I understand the safety and noises and the not knowing things.

If I was camping in woods, I'd pay more attention or sences would be more up. Because of noises and not knowing what's out there.

[OfDeath]

Yes. Being animals adapted more to daylight activities, humans are naturally cautious of the dark because it is harder to see predators, pit falls, deadly ground dwelling creepy crawlies and other risk factors. The genes for bold night exploration, foraging and hunting haven't spread as much amongst the population because genes for staying sheltered and close to one's tribe at night are more likely to survive.

[coachTanthony]

Give me some lighting bugs and a bottle of wine and that's a perfect summer evening.

[4ngelic]

we actually are cos prehistory

i heard we can sometimes be scared of the dark cos our brain thinks there could be hidden carnivorous animals like bears and stuff lurking in the darkness

[inhua]

yes human beings are naturally more afraid of the dark since our earliest ancestors were mostly attacked at night time by predators plus we can't see in the dark

[NamerOfStars]

Yes. Most predators that hunted humans do so at night, and our night vision isn't particularly good. It's only natural to fear the time when you're most in danger.

[Girlsontop]

Love the dark, I think it depends on the person

[OddBeMe]

Porcupines have spikes. Humans have intuition. We get a feeling something is wrong and more often we’re right. And night is harder to see in, so of course we’re more afraid.

[Agape93]

Kinda. Humans had reason to fear the dark for hundreds of thousands of years.

[LiamJHayden]

I think most people are cautious about the unknown / unseen, and darkness makes it more difficult to discern if anything is lurking.

[richardcory]

Could be some sort of evolved response. Humans seem better suited as day predators than night predators.

[gorydetails]

Of course we are. Being unable to see gives predators who hunt at night a distinct advantage.

[Snakeyes7]

It is the loss of awareness of our surroundings.

[Anonymous]

We are designed to operate in the light. Where we can see stuff.

[Bklynbadboy12]

I don't think so I love the dark and the dark can be very fun

[Anonymous]

You see less in the dark.. which is a bigger risk for danger when you can't prevent it.. until its too late.

[Jamie05rhs]

I like nighttime. But not just because it's dark. I think I like it because it's quieter. It's more peaceful.

[Wise4myage]

Some people are afraid of the dark, but not me. I love it.

[dragoblack]

For thousands of years humans have always ben paranoid and scared of what they can't see.

[Sparkie460]

I think it's more peaceful in the dark

[eagle1951]

spend most of my life in the dark

[BLP11520]

Animal attacks are at night