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Fear is one of the most powerful emotions in the human brain, deeply rooted in the prefrontal cortex and amygdala. It is what scientists refer to as the brain’s innate wiring. Fear memories are primal, primary, and extremely difficult to eradicate.
Dr. Elizabeth Phelps’s groundbreaking research has shown that fear can be transmitted simply by watching violent acts on video, even if one has not directly witnessed or experienced those acts.
This is the current situation we find ourselves in, where horrifying acts of depravity committed by Hamas are disseminated worldwide through the internet and social media. It is all too easy for us, here in the U.S., to voyeuristically immerse ourselves in the news, experiencing fear, worry, and anxiety indirectly.
AP’S GAZA REPORTER REPEATEDLY CRITICIZED ISRAEL ON SOCIAL MEDIA, CALLING FOR AN ‘OVERTHROW’ OF THE OPPRESSIVE REGIME
This behavior is detrimental to our mental health, as it replaces more positive emotions such as empathy, courage, and compassion that also reside within the same deep emotional centers.
Police officers evacuate a woman and a child from a site hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, southern Israel, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. The rockets were fired as part of a massive terror attack by Hamas against Israel. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov)
Within Israel, where courage, commitment, and focus are crucial at this time, Dr. Ayelet Shmuel, a psychotherapist and licensed social worker who directs the International Resilience Center of Sderot, shared some valuable insights with me via email regarding the detrimental role of voyeurism in this situation.
“For the Israel Defense Forces to effectively do what is necessary to win this war, civilians and communities must maintain resilience. Given the horrific crimes against humanity and the traumatic images that are being exposed, there are significant psychological challenges to overcome.”
“The constant exposure through media coverage and social media platforms exacerbates these challenges. Resilience is the key. Finding meaning, pursuing functional continuity, fostering a sense of community, and witnessing the resolution of uncertainty will help our country and people remain resilient throughout this period.”
Uncertainty breeds fear by perpetuating the notion that danger still lurks. That is why securing a country’s borders is of utmost importance.
What can we do here in the U.S.?
Shmuel is right in emphasizing the central need for resilience, and we can certainly learn from this. In the U.S., indoctrination, divisiveness, and rigid adherence to political ideologies are widespread.
Take note of her wise words: become part of a community and search for meaning in your life. To this, I would add the importance of focusing on loved ones and, if you are a parent, serving as a role model of courage rather than fear. Fear erodes, but courage complements resilience.
It is also crucial that we do not obsess over media imagery, continuing to work, play, and empathize while offering support to our allies in Israel. They are isolated and they need us.
This is the situation we find ourselves in currently, where horrific acts of depravity committed by Hamas are broadcast around the world via internet and social media. It is too easy for us here in the U.S. to attach ourselves voyeuristically to the news, to experience fear and worry and anxiety by proxy.
The political divisiveness and hatred will lead many anti-Semitic groups to wrongly scapegoat Israel even as it struggles to ensure its survival. Supporting them in all aspects, including militarily, emotionally, financially, and through volunteering or visiting, is the way we can help.
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My father, who is turning 100 years old this week and is a Navy veteran of World War II, recently asked me how he can contribute. He expressed great rage over the events in Israel.
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However, as always, he offered wise caution. “I believe in seeking justice, but the problem is that they [Hamas] are behaving like animals, making revenge ineffective.”
Challenge your brain to embrace the positive and powerful human emotions that counterbalance primal fear. Israel has endured immense cruelty, and the way to counter it is with unwavering courage and kindness.
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