Our inner world is formed not only by our conscious experience, but also by the ancient instincts embedded in us from the very dawn of humanity.

Ancient Fears: How Primitive Instincts Shape Modern Existence

Our inner world is formed not only by our conscious experience, but also by the ancient instincts embedded in us from the very dawn of humanity. Modern observations and research emphasize that the basic fears experienced by our ancestors remain an integral part of us: they originate in the depths of our biological nature and cultural memory, defining our behavior even when we are not aware of their presence.

At the core of these feelings lies an instinctive mistrust of the uncertainty of the world around us. We carry echoes of an ancient struggle for survival — the fear of darkness, sudden attacks, and other threats accumulated over millions of years of evolution. These primitive responses, though long rooted in our psyche, are reflected in modern fears when reality often becomes mixed with the legacy of the past.

Beyond the sense of threat to physical safety, more complex existential fears are awakened in our consciousness. These relate to the very meaning of existence: the awareness of finitude, the loss of identity, and the possible loss of connection with oneself. Invisible yet powerful, these fears act as a protective barrier, pushing us to remain vigilant even when the threat seems distant.

Thus, understanding our roots helps us comprehend how ancient experiences shape our perception of the world. Despite changes in the surrounding environment and the realities of modern life, our subconscious continues to rely on the rich experience of our ancestors. This knowledge not only deepens our understanding of ourselves but also spurs us to seek new ways to live harmoniously with our inner world, where biological instincts and the eternal questions of existence intertwine in a dynamic system.

What fears affect a person most deeply and why?

Based on the sources, it can be said that the fears which affect a person most deeply are those that originated at the very foundation of his being — fears arising from the depths of instinctive, biological, and cultural memory. These fears are not always consciously experienced on a clear level; however, they penetrate every pore of life, defining our behavior and worldview.

In particular, one source notes that “Fear is inherent in the nature of the fallen human (‘Fear is the deprivation of steadfast hope,’ says St. John Damascene) and is profoundly biological, for man carries within him an animal element that instinctively fears external threats: darkness, attacks, etc.” (source: link txt). This emphasizes that fears linked to primitive experiences of threat — for example, the fear of darkness or attack — have become ingrained in us thanks to our evolutionary history and the collective memory of our ancestors.

Another source distinguishes the so-called existential fears, which are essentially “subconscious fears” — “The second type of fears are a product of the subconscious, a reflection of our ancestors’ primordial fears. It is the fear of darkness, the fear of death... an existential fear.” (source: link txt). Such fears are characterized by universality and depth, as they are directly connected to our awareness of finitude, the loss of self, and the confrontation with the inevitable aspects of human existence.

It can also be noted that modern research (as reflected in citations from other sources) shows: “The modern person is not aware of all his fears...” – yet it is these unconscious, inner fears, being the “children of human passions,” that penetrate the soul, influencing behavior both in moments of paralysis and in states of induced activity.

Thus, the fears that affect a person most deeply are those stemming from his biological nature and ancient collective memory. They include fears related to the threat of physical safety (for example, the fear of darkness, attacks), as well as the existential fear of death and loss of identity. These fears function as a protective mechanism, warning the person of potential dangers, even if in the modern world the real threats may differ significantly from those we once experienced.