Why is it that so many people have a fear of the dark?
My first thought is that it is some kind of defence mechanism from long ago, surly it must have been much more dangerous at night when we still lived in caves, with all them wild animals and such.

What do you people thin of this?

P.s If this is the wrong forum for it, i apologize

Humans fear the unknown. Children are mainly the ones who fear the dark, and at a young age they may not understand that everything in a room is exactly same in the dark, and that make-believe creatures do not, in fact, lurk out of sight. In the general cases, I look at it as a lack of knowledge/experience.

Aside from those incidences... you got me.

While i do agree with you. I know many grown up people still have a fear of the dark. Not while inside the house, but when outside.

im afraid of the dark cause i think im gonna get kidnaped by aliens

I don't really know why people are afraid of the dark. I think it's the fact that shows and movies always have a scene where something terrible happens to someone while they are in the dark. Also, if you have a light shining in through your window it can kind of make things look different. If you have a sweater or jacket on your chair, the light can sometimes make the shadow of the sweater or jacket look like someone is watching you or if you have stuffed animals they can look pretty spooky too.

as mentioned before...

the dark is representative of our ignorance, implying a fear of the unknown. in the light all is revealed.

example: when walking through the house at night or in darkness, it is much more likely that you will stub your toe on some piece of furniture... so you move carefully, cautiously. if the lights are on you don't think twice about it. it may not be a monster lurking in the shadow that is to fear but rather a broken toe. (subconsciously)

many phobias are irrational.

I have watched my own three kids as a sort of experiment if you will... Watching to see at what age it is they get scared of the dark, and possible reasons why.

My eldest was about three. She had to sleep with a night light on from that point on until recently (she is now 8)...

My toddler, Miss nearly 3 has been scared of the dark for around 6 months and now sleeps with a night light.

My baby boy, 15 months is not scared of the dark. Yet.

I put it down to media I'm afraid!! TV shows, cartoons and movies! Even some Disney movies contribute to it (Monster's Inc)... Once they become intellectually able to understand the concept of these shows/movies and that the dark is a big scary thing I think that's when it all goes pear shaped!

I wonder if I stopped my baby boy from watching ANYTHING remotely scary, or that mentioned monsters etc if he'll continue to be happy in a dark room at night.

just don't shield your children from the reality of truth. thats the only advice i can offer up on that one. they will be the wiser if they walk into the world with eyes wide open.

Well put, and agreed!