Concept in Definition ABC

The experience of intense fear is known as terror. The word terror presents diverse synonyms in Spanish, such as horror, fright, dread, panic or fear.

The many faces of terror

The experience of terror is present in many ways. In fiction there are specific genres, the movie theater wave literature horror, whose main characteristic is to create an atmosphere of panic in the viewer or the reader. In real life, the intense feeling of fear can be experienced in many ways: the night terror of children, threatening or extreme situations danger or in a context of violence or war.

In the world of dreams we also experience situations of dread and fear

Sometimes terror becomes a kind of game, as happens with some children's attractions or terrifying carnival costumes.

Terror is generally rejected by the human being, except in those cases in which it is part of fiction or entertainment. However, acts that generate terror are a powerful instrument to achieve certain objectives, as is the case with the actions of terrorist groups or mafias.

In a historical sense, terror is part of the universal history of humanity and in a very special way in wars, situations of exploitation, genocides or in some revolutionary processes (for example, during the French Revolution a stage so bloody and brutal took place that it is known as the Terror).

The physiological mechanisms of terror

The physiological mechanism that activates terror is found in the brain of people and animals, specifically in the so-called limbic system. This system is used to regulate the emotions and it puts us on guard against panic situations.

The experience of extreme fear depends on a hormone, oxytocin. The activation of this hormone allows to react to what produces the terror and from this warning the individual may act one way or another: escaping from the danger that terrifies you, facing fear, or staying paralyzed.

From a physiological point of view, terror situations produce a series of alterations: increased heart rate and blood pressure, increased blood pressure, metabolismmobile and glucose and blood flow to the lower extremities to facilitate escape.

Terrifying experiences not only affect the body momentarily but can leave significant long-term psychological consequences.

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