Remember those horror movies we’d watch as a kid?
Jason or Freddy or even some Lifetime villainous shadowy stranger would seem to coolly traipse behind the protagonist victim – at nonchalant stalking speed – yet when the bish looks back, he’s somehow defied physics and closing in on her? When the Scary Movie series started poking fun at this tactic, it made me wonder why it was ever implemented into my favorite original 80’s creepy flicks at all.
Why do approaching objects bother us so much?
Well, according to a study at U. Chicago, it’s because we all share the fear of “things moving closer”. It boils down to some strange vestigial evolutionary response, apparently. Early on in our existence, we weren’t quite equipped to take on danger so easily – so the perception of approaching objects was tough to discern. For this reason, our brains were wary whether it was a fellow caveman coming at us or his club headed for our heads. And even though we aren’t in that same day-to-day danger of dying by way of being eaten, this fear of things coming closer – dubbed “approach avoidance” has managed to stick with us.
Even with benign, non-threatening, adorable things.
And it’s not just the sight of nearing objects that’s an object of anxiety for folks. If our other senses perceive something approaching, we internally wig out a bit also. The research showed that test subjects had classic fear responses when they heard sounds or saw videos of meaningless things zooming in – like alphabet letters.
Abstract concepts are part of this too – although I tend to think that goes under the genre called “future tripping” – worrying needlessly over something that hasn’t happened yet (which I totes do). The study demonstrated that upcoming visits from loved ones were cause for this same “approach avoidance”. To be fair, my approach avoidance regarding loved ones coming to town is well deserved. I’m still waiting on a dining sesh wherein at least alligator tears haven’t been shed or facepalm worthy comments haven’t been said to in-laws.
(This dinner table faux pas is brought to you by Cabernet – better than liquor – but still pretty bad if you don’t bother using a glass.)
Lucky for me, I have a go-to plan wherein I seek refuge under the table whenever the room’s vibrations start to become hostile. Should they amplify, I have my peons ready my iron steed for departure. Why let family rivalry drive you to drink when you can just drive away and send them ILY’s and “that was fun!”s from the sanctuary of your home?
I can’t speak for the fear response if you creep out over domesticated felines stalking you.
But if you get a plan A and B like mine, at least you’ll stop hearing the Jaws theme whenever human interaction is imminent.