Why are children innately scared of monsters?

[Rainsford]

Well since there is no such thing as a "monster", the question is a little off...

If you are asking why are they scared there are "monsters" in their closet, it's a survival mechanism, something that's natural to most species. It's an even bigger deal with humans at night because our primary sense is sight...which is pretty piss poor at night. As we get older we learn to supress these mechanisms. If there really WERE monsters in the closet, we'd all be fvcked.

 

[So]

Originally posted by: BD2003
Because kids dont know they dont exists.

If I see a real monster, I'm scared.

<yells>LOOK OUT BEHIND YOU! It's KIM JONG IL!!!!!</yells>

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

am I the only one who read "why are children innatel;y scared of molesters"?

 

[Bryophyte]

Originally posted by: So

Originally posted by: BD2003
Because kids dont know they dont exists.

If I see a real monster, I'm scared.

<yells>LOOK OUT BEHIND YOU! It's Fausto in a thong!!!!!</yells>

 

[Hubris]

Your question itself is flawed. Children are not "innately" afraid of monsters. That's a learned response. If you put Freddy Kruger in front of a child that has NEVER been exposed to monsters in any way shape or form, they won't be terrified of him. They'll just think it's a human who looks differently.

Some things are innate in human beings. But monster fear is something which they learn.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: So

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
You telling me you wouldn't be scared if you saw an eleventy-zillion foot tall flaming death giraffe with umbrellas for feet?

No, I'd be all like "cool, If I can sedate that thing I can run conduit up it's neck and generate a load of free electricity." And I'd have little dollar signs for pupils.

You don't seem to have objectively thought about the insane amount of sedative necessary to bring down an eleventy-zillion foot death giraffe, flaming or no.

 

[samgau]

Originally posted by: blackdogdeek
fear of the unknown. it's a survival mechanism. at least imo.

 

[So]

Originally posted by: Hubris
Your question itself is flawed. Children are not "innately" afraid of monsters. That's a learned response. If you put Freddy Kruger in front of a child that has NEVER been exposed to monsters in any way shape or form, they won't be terrified of him. They'll just think it's a human who looks differently.

Some things are innate in human beings. But monster fear is something which they learn.

That's not true. I think that children could be afraid of freddy kruger, children fear the unknown, unless is it cute and fuzzy. Like the inside of a VW minibus filled with candy.

 

[Turkish]

because monsters = scary.

 

[GarlicBreath]

If there really WERE monsters in the closet, we'd all be fvcked.

Not me. One of the revolvers in my nightstand is loaded with anti-monster loads (.357 magum 158-grain jacketed softpoints.)

If that doesn't work, the boomstick has double-aught buck, and slugs in the buttstock just in case.

 

[So]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: So

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
You telling me you wouldn't be scared if you saw an eleventy-zillion foot tall flaming death giraffe with umbrellas for feet?

No, I'd be all like "cool, If I can sedate that thing I can run conduit up it's neck and generate a load of free electricity." And I'd have little dollar signs for pupils.

You don't seem to have objectively thought about the insane amount of sedative necessary to bring down an eleventy-zillion foot death giraffe, flaming or no.

Hmmm....perhaps using the electricty to power a giant headlight and get him to freeze in his tracks?

 

[ATLien247]

Originally posted by: Hubris
Your question itself is flawed. Children are not "innately" afraid of monsters. That's a learned response. If you put Freddy Kruger in front of a child that has NEVER been exposed to monsters in any way shape or form, they won't be terrified of him. They'll just think it's a human who looks differently.

Some things are innate in human beings. But monster fear is something which they learn.

Possibly...

Although my three-year-old daughter has lately been talking about being afraid of monsters in our basement. I don't recall my wife or me ever explaining to her what a monster is. I think the closest thing that could explain it would be the monsters on Sesame Street, but those aren't meant to be scary, so who knows?

 

[dullard]

I feel humans, just like animals have a survival instinct. Deep inside we fear everything (until proven that they are safe). Once we know that we are safe, we are no longer afraid of what scared us previously. Monsters are a good example - children haven't yet been told that the large beast with sharp teeth and huge claws are safe.

 

[So]

Originally posted by: dullard
I feel humans, just like animals have a survival instinct. Deep inside we fear everything (until proven that they are safe). Once we know that we are safe, we are no longer afraid of what scared us previously. Monsters are a good example - children haven't yet been told that the large beast with sharp teeth and huge claws are safe.

That's why children are afraid of the goth kids that hang out behind the Food4Less

 

[blackdogdeek]

Originally posted by: Hubris
Your question itself is flawed. Children are not "innately" afraid of monsters. That's a learned response. If you put Freddy Kruger in front of a child that has NEVER been exposed to monsters in any way shape or form, they won't be terrified of him. They'll just think it's a human who looks differently.

Some things are innate in human beings. But monster fear is something which they learn.

i disagree. my little girl is afraid of things she doesn't recognize. in fact, when i get a haircut she doesn't seem too comfortable when i carry her.

of course, one could argue that my haircut is just that scary

 

[johnjohn320]

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
Because you're not hitting them hard enough.

If they're scared enough of you, their fear of monsters will be the least of their worries. You'd be doing them a favor.

I just nearly fell out of my chair laughing. hehe

But I'd have to agree with whoever pointed out that it's not an "innate" fear, kids learn the fear. When parents tell scary stories, they act afraid and so their kids learn to be afraid of what the parents described. It's the same way biases and prejudices are learned from parents. Kids see how their parents act about something, or even the idea of something, and they feel likewise.

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: Hubris
Your question itself is flawed. Children are not "innately" afraid of monsters. That's a learned response. If you put Freddy Kruger in front of a child that has NEVER been exposed to monsters in any way shape or form, they won't be terrified of him. They'll just think it's a human who looks differently.

Some things are innate in human beings. But monster fear is something which they learn.

Fear of the unknown is innate. The OP is making a general fear into something more specific. All of my kids have been, at one time or another, afraid of Chuch E. Cheese. They love to go to the place, but when Chuck E. comes out, they start running.

 

[slpaulson]

If I saw a hell knight, you bet your ass I'd be scared too.

If you're asking why they belive in monsters, beats me.

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: CPA

Originally posted by: Hubris
Your question itself is flawed. Children are not "innately" afraid of monsters. That's a learned response. If you put Freddy Kruger in front of a child that has NEVER been exposed to monsters in any way shape or form, they won't be terrified of him. They'll just think it's a human who looks differently.

Some things are innate in human beings. But monster fear is something which they learn.

Fear of the unknown is innate. The OP is making a general fear into something more specific. All of my kids have been, at one time or another, afraid of Chuch E. Cheese. They love to go to the place, but when Chuck E. comes out, they start running.

Chuck E Cheese is pretty freakin scary.

 

[0roo0roo]

back in the day, we used to get dragged around by our eye sockets by big cats

 

[dighn]

monsters = embodiment of PH33R

 

[psiu]

This reminded me of one my favorite Far Side's ever.

Monster Snorkel

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: So
They know I'm after them.

Because they sense/know that most of the bigger people around them are so damned repressed! If all that repressed stuff started coming out fast enough it would be really scarry! Thus, they are already surrounded by monsters! Too, children can more easily tap their imagination than most older people. They are only a few heartbeats away from imagining what right now is totally unimaginable, including all manner of monstrous things! :Q The unconscious can be suddenly conscious. That's what a monster symbolizes.

 

[Gurck]

Because they're stupid.

 

[mrschunkee]

I agree with you- my kids were afraid, "innately" if you want to call it that, when they were little, of anyone or anything that looked or sounded different from the norm. That applied to men with big booming voices, Santa Claus, clowns, some old people, AND monsters! What they learned was that some of those different looking thiings were good, and some were scare in fact.