...when we all lived in a liquid environment in the womb. Sure we all have fears but I wonder about this particular fear. Shouldn't it feel natural? It does to me, so I have a hard time understanding why others are so shocked by it.
2006-06-17 00:06:22 · 14 answers · asked by megalomaniac 7 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
Even in shallow water where there is a very very low chance of drowning a lot of people still fear submerging their body, especially their face.
2006-06-17 00:11:16 · update #1
In psychology there's much speculation concerning phobias such as aquaphobia (the one you are basically talking about), arachnophobia (fear of spiders), agoraphobia (fear of open spaces), claustrophobia (fear of closed spaces), etc.
I believe the two prominent explanations for phobias at the moment would be learning theories (e.g., classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and social cognitive) or biological theories (e.g., evolutionary theory). The learning theories would suggest that the fear of water is learned. For example, having a bad experience with water in the past and never getting over it.
Evolutionary theory primarily explains fears that are biological (i.e., no experiences from the person's past seems to explain their fear). According to this perspective, such fears can be explained in terms of Darwin's evolutionary (i.e., natural selection) theory. As an example, imagine that a person's ancestors didn't know how to swim. However, among the ancestors were people who had a natural liking for jumping in a deep body of water, and those who had a tendency not to like water. Naturally, if you jump in water and you cannot swim, you will drown. Here, natural selection selects against (i.e., kills of) ancestors that like water. The ancestors that do survive, produce later generations (i.e., offspring) that carry the trait of not liking water. This consequently makes it possible for someone to be born with a fear of water, since it is an inherited trait passed down by one's ancestors that originally had a survival purpose.
Look for an evolutionary psychologist named David Buss, who is the originator of the evolutionary perspective of phobias.
2006-06-17 07:32:10 · answer #1 · answered by mindful1 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think it's ok how you feel and it's very understandable how you would have that fear after what you went through when you were younger. I really believe fear is not irrational because it's a real thing to whoever is experiencing it. If you want to take lessons in swimming: Most instructors now a days are really good at helping people with adaptations for swimming. (you would want to explain your fear and what happened). In my opinion, you really don't need to put your head under the water to be able to swim. That is one part that you can request that you don't do. (I would seek out someone who will accommodate your request if you would like to take lessons that don't involve dunking your head under water). You can help yourself also but just taking it easy in a pool and do whatever is comfortable for you, starting out as simple as possible, even to the simplest act of putting your legs in the pool and sitting on the side. Take care and be easy on yourself, do what you feel you can do. This will help you eventually be able to swim, if this something that ..you... want to do. Be good to yourself... I'll add a link for more help if you'd like to see an article too.
2016-05-19 22:28:49 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
People are scared of the water, because in their mind they keep thinking about the possibility of drowning. It is a learned fear. Babies who are taught to swim, never had this fear, so they are quick learners.
2006-06-17 00:12:30 · answer #3 · answered by WC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i agree with others saying that it's not fear of swimming but a fear of drowning...sometimes there are people who have experienced something bad with water...which have led them to this phobia...i heard that there are some swimming schools that throw infants into the water to teach them how to swim because swimming according to them is an instinct...so therefore, the fear of swimming as you say is not something that is contradicted with our environment when we were fetuses but a result of personal experiences or encounters with water...
2006-06-17 00:19:39 · answer #4 · answered by adiktedtoian14 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is not the fear of swimming but rather the fear of drowning.
2006-06-17 00:08:42 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know about you humans, but us aliens have absolutely no buoyancy. We sink like stones, and salt water deteriorates our flesh almost instantly. You can swim sir, I'll stick to flying through light waves. You think swimming's scary? Try flying in vacuo through a light beam! That'll scare the crap right out of your pants!
2006-06-17 12:08:53 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
well unless you can remember being in there than i understand this theroy but considering i cannot and many others are alike i would have to say that fear comes from the unknown if you can't swim than sure there's gonna be fear there!
Quick!
2006-06-17 00:10:58 · answer #7 · answered by Dan X 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They fear of their lives,most especially if they don't know how to swim or float above water(sea water).
2006-06-17 00:09:32 · answer #8 · answered by roncat 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I grew up in the Yukon, to me the natural state of water is solid (ie: ice). I'm deeply suspicious of liquid water - large bodies of it especially!
2006-06-17 00:09:12 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They don't fear Swimming, its not swimming they fear.
2006-06-17 00:09:18 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋