Psychology of Fear — Why We Fear What We Fear: Conditioning, Habit and Change
A 90-minute session on the fears we did not choose. Not phobias and not theory — the ordinary, installed fears that quietly run our curfews, our careers, our bank accounts and our silences. Twelve independent cards; open four or five.
The opening question
How do you deal with your fear?
Everyone in the room answers this in one line before any card is opened. Write the answers down; you will come back to them.
The cards
12 ways into the topic
Each card is independent. Your group votes on which to open, and four or five is plenty for an hour. Behind every card sit three prompts, one at a time, that only appear once it is opened on the board. Unopened cards keep for next time.
- 1
The Monster On Standby
Every house kept one. Nobody agrees what it cost.
- 2
The Thing You Route Around
You've arranged your whole life so you never have to do it.
- 3
Nobody Wants To Go First
You had the answer. You didn't say it. Why not?
- 4
Money You Can't Spend
Money in the bank, and the AC still goes off after an hour.
- 5
Log Kya Kahenge
The three most powerful words in the house.
- 6
Different Rules For The Daughter
Same house, same parents, two completely different curfews.
- 7
The Fear That Paid Off
Some of us only studied because we were terrified.
- 8
The Safe Choice
Your family called it sensible. Was it?
- 9
Whose Fear Wins
Your fear is now my rule. Is that fair?
- 10
The Fight You Never Have
Some couples never fight. That isn't always good news.
- 11
Braver At Nineteen
You used to do things you would never do now.
- 12
What You've Already Passed On
You've heard your mother's exact sentence come out of your mouth.
The line to leave with
Not every fear you are carrying is yours — the harder question is whether you would recognise one that actually was.
More boards,more ways in.
Every discussion we have run has a board behind it. Browse them by topic.