Why Do We Fear The Unfamiliar?

In this episode of The Leftish Agenda, Eddie discusses the universal human tendency to fear the unfamiliar. He begins by explaining how our survival instincts and the fight-or-flight response have evolved to make us cautious of anything new or unknown. He then explores the role of cognitive dissonance, and our fear of the unknown, in amplifying this fear. Eddie addresses the impact of societal narratives and learned behaviors, as well as the roles of cognitive biases and ingroup vs. outgroup dynamics, in perpetuating our fear of unfamiliar situations or people. The episode also touches on how personal experiences, trauma, and vicarious learning further contribute to this fear. Towards the end, Eddie shares strategies to overcome this fear, including education and exposure to new experiences, mindfulness and reflection, challenging cognitive biases, and building empathy.