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Is there perhaps a connection between the primal fear of darkness and fear of contact with blind people? Sighted humans feel insecure, helpless and afraid in the dark. It's a fear everyone already knows from childhood. This distinguishes blindness from other disabilities. 1/3
There's an evolutionary reason why we're afraid of the dark. Though we don’t technically need this fear, it's still there, and it's confusing. https://www.sciencealert.com/here-s-the-evolutionary-reason-why-we-re-afraid-of-the-dark
Are we hardwired to be afraid of the dark? Why some people never grow out of this fear: "In one 2012 U.K. survey, nearly 40 percent of respondents said they were afraid to walk around the house with the lights off." https://www.thecut.com/2016/10/why-are-people-afraid-of-the-dark.html
I think what distinguishes blind people from other stigmatized groups is that all people at all times, already in their childhood, have experienced the strong fear of not being able to see when it was dark. This experience is deeply engraved in the minds of many. 4/x
This emotion is hard-wired or prepared, as anxiety researchers say. In contact with blind people this primal fear, which is deeply rooted in the brain due to evolution, is awakened and then unconsciously reinforces pity, prejudice, paternalism and avoidance behaviour. 5/x
Of course, this often only applies to those who have no experience with blind people. But it is exactly these people who avoid contact with us or feel uncomfortable doing so. There is only little that can be done about it, but at least we can try to understand the cause. 6/x
Usually unfounded fears that can be triggered by contact with blind people: Accidentally saying or doing something wrong or hurtful, being asked for help and not being able to say no, not knowing how to help, not being able to get rid of the blind person after helping. 7/12
Study on sighted people's misperceptions: 53% feel uncomfortable around blind people. 74% don't believe that they could still be happy if they were blind. 80%pity blind. 46% couldn't imagine a worse fate than being blind. 8/12 https://www.perkins.org/stories/media/press-releases/study-more-than-half-of-all-americans-are-not-comfortable-around-a @perkinsvision @BlindNewWorld
"Am I really that scary? This is the question I ask myself each time I encounter someone who, upon discovering that I am blind, suddenly loses the power of speech and the inability to have an intelligent thought. Am I being hypersensitive?" 9/12 https://seeingitmyway.com/2014/01/12/am-i-really-that-scary/
"Yet sight is so essential to the concept of living that people feel some sort of an existential attachment to it, as if to lose their sight would be akin to losing life, altogether." 10/12 https://www.afb.org/blog/entry/why-do-people-fear-blind by @MHackman @AFB1921
"Whenever I saw a blind person on the street I would stare, transfixed, hoping, out of a vague and visceral discomfort, that I wouldn’t have to engage with him." 11/12 https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/05/opinion/sunday/why-do-we-fear-the-blind.html
Why sighted fear darkness
... and blind people
This thread with 12 tweets and 6 links tries to explain that. I am looking for further opinions, links & research results. Other keywords: evolution, anxiety, childhood, Conditioning, trigger, prejudices, stigma, avoidance. 12/12
... and blind peopleThis thread with 12 tweets and 6 links tries to explain that. I am looking for further opinions, links & research results. Other keywords: evolution, anxiety, childhood, Conditioning, trigger, prejudices, stigma, avoidance. 12/12
