Question: why do people get scared, what causes it?

Jen Machin answered on 12 Mar 2015:

People get scared to protect themselves from harm in dangerous situations. It’s a warning from our brains to avoid doing something that might mean we get hurt. This was really important in the past when the world wasn’t as safe for us as it is now.

A part of our brain called the amygdala is responsible for emotions, and it controls when we feel fear. It helps to send signals to the rest of your body that mean you will be able to run away faster or fight harder if you need to. That’s why your heart rate goes up when you’re scared – it sends lots more blood and oxygen to your muscles so they will be able to work hard 🙂 This is called the fight or flight response, and it’s perfectly normal – everyone is scared sometimes!