What makes people fear heights yet ride rollercoasters and skyways?

Answer 1

they not scared then

Answer 2

The fear of heights is something humans are born with. There was a study done with infants where they stopped before crawling over a drop. (Plexiglass covered the drop, and they refused to crawl on top of it.)

Now we get to rollercoasters, and another human phenomenon called "adrenaline junkies." When you're frightened or threatened, your "fight or flight" response is triggered and adrenaline floods your system. The adrenaline gives you extra energy to fight or run away from a threat, like an attacking animal or an avalanche.

Being high up triggers this same fear response (remember the infants.) When you fall, you're frightened, and even though fighting or fleeing won't help you, the adrenaline kicks in anyway.

Some people come to like the "high" they get from adrenaline. You'll hear about hardcore adrenaline junkies who parachute, skydive, do dangerous stunts, etc. They're after the high created by the adrenaline released during these stunts.

Same's true for rollercoaster. Although it's safe, the same fear responses are triggered, and thrill-seekers can get high off the adrenaline rush created by falling.

Surely there's also an element here of showing off- showing others how bravely they can do things that people naturally are afraid to do.

Answer 3

I am scared to death of heights but I feel somewhat safe in a rollercoaster. I'm straped in, the cars usually don't fall off the tracks lol. I think being a little scared is what makes them so much fun. For me anyway, the fear of heights is based around the fear of falling. So I'm ok in a plane or in a high-rise building but I cannot stand to walk over a bridge or get near the edge of a rooftop.

Answer 4

I freak out just going up ladders, but I love rollercoasters. The intense fear of being up so high makes rollercoasters that much more frightening yet fun. I think our society enjoys being scared within a secure environment.

Answer 5

Mostly its the thought of being scared. People think that they wouldnt like big buildings or mountains but they just dont know. Most people can go on rollercoasters because they are safe and there more general. Climbing high places or being up high scares people because it isnt as general and is more commonly connected with dare devilish jobs which most people are also scared of.

Answer 6

Im terrified of heights but i go on rollercoasters and things, its just with a roller coaster you feel safe because of all the precautions people have taken, if it was dangerous no one would use them

Answer 7

i hate hieghts no matter where i am except when im on an airplane..wierd huh. well i wouldnt even want to go on a roller coaster....until ur friends kinda force u somehow to go. my story lol. i didnt want to feel like a wuss or be like the only 1 out of my other 12 friends i want to the amusement park with waiting for them to get off.so i went on anyways and was stil afraid lol. cuz we immidiatly went up high. i look down...then just closed my eyes...open them again the next thing i know is im goin down and doin all the flips and corkscrews...of course all my friends would wanna go on te biggest one in the park...i felt so scared and my stomach felt wierd..lol. i went on the ride a couple of more times and kinda got used to it so. when i was on the ride and we went high i was still scared but i jst like the felling of being in the seats goin fast and spinning.

Answer 8

In child in every adult usher one to try excitement of rollercoasters and skyways which never before ever existed.
Its human nature to want to try new things.

Answer 9

i love rollarcoasters but i hate heights. i'm very scared of heights. i think it's the fact that you are moving at a very fast pace on a rollar coaster that makes me okay with it. the only time i'm normally scared on a rollar coaster is at the very start where they bring you up high. your moving slowly and it freaks me out a lot. i know...my theory is weird.