Fear: quick facts
Fear is the basic emotion triggered by a specific, present source of danger. As a survival mechanism it prepares the body to respond — the 'fight, flight, or freeze' reaction — and ranges from mild caution to intense…
Category
Basic emotions
Valence
Negative
Emotion family / blend
Fear
Typical triggers
Present, specific danger or threat
How it's expressed
Widened eyes, raised brows, tensed body, freeze/flight readiness
Sources: Paul Ekman Group — Universal Emotions; American Psychological Association — APA Dictionary: emotion; National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) — Anxiety Disorders. Educational information only — not medical or psychological advice. See our sources & fact-check policy.