The fear of the dark is very common, especially in children. This fear likely stems from an instinctive anxiety about potential dangers that may be concealed by darkness. However, there are several other factors that can contribute to being afraid of the dark.
Evolutionary Explanations
One reason darkness triggers fear is because of our evolutionary history. For our early human ancestors, the nighttime darkness posed real threats from predators and other dangers that were harder to detect and avoid. Being afraid of the dark was an adaptive trait that helped with survival. Those who were more cautious at night were more likely to survive and pass on their genes.
This instinctive wariness of darkness and the unknown has been passed down over thousands of generations. It still lingers in our psychology today, even if we rationally know there is little danger. The fear is primal and subconscious.
Lack of Visual Information
Darkness deprives us of visual information about our surroundings. This visual deprivation can contribute to fear and anxiety simply because it is more difficult to detect potential threats. Without being able to see clearly, the mind is left to imagine all sorts of possible dangers that could be lurking in the shadows.
We feel more secure when we have visual confirmation of our safety. Without that visual assurance, our instincts tell us to be on guard just in case. So darkness itself triggers a heightened state of vigilance and tension.
Distorted Perceptions
In the dark, our eyes and mind can play tricks on us. We may perceive shadows, shapes, and movements that aren’t really there. This can feed into fears and perceptions of threat.
For example, a coat rack in a dark room may vaguely look like a person. A tree branch casting a shadow may take on the appearance of a hand. The wind blowing a curtain may seem like an intruder.
Our imagination and perception gets distorted. We start seeing illusory figures and movement that make us feel uneasy and scared of what could be there in the darkness.
The Unknown
Darkness is closely linked with the unknown. When we can’t see what is around us, it could be anything. This open-ended uncertainty is unsettling. The unknown aspects of darkness stimulate fears about all sorts of imagined possibilities, many of them scary or threatening.
Studies show that people are much more afraid of uncertain situations compared to ones where the risk is known. The darkness represents an extremely uncertain situation where potential threats could exist, but we don’t know for sure. This ambiguity amplifies fears and anxiety.
Lack of Control
When it’s dark, we know we have very limited control over our environment. We can’t see dangers, so we can’t predict them or properly react to them. We also can’t see obstacles, so navigation and movement is impaired.
This loss of control is unnerving because our safety feels precarious. We are vulnerable in the dark, unable to take full defensive or evasive actions. We have to hope external threats don’t materialize, which creates a passive anxiety.
Isolation
Darkness has an isolating effect. Especially at night, most other people are asleep and we are alone with our thoughts. This solitude can contribute to fears.
Being alone in the dark separates us from the reassurance and safety of other people’s presence. There is no one to help if we encounter danger. The isolation compounds all the other threatening aspects of darkness.
Childhood Fears
Many childhood fears center around the dark, including being alone at night, sleeping without a nightlight, walking past dark rooms or closets, etc. These common early fears of darkness carry over into adulthood for some people.
As a child, the dark is scarier due to an active imagination, lack of experience with real dangers, and a heightened need for security. If these childhood associations with darkness are traumatic enough, the fear may persist in later life.
Overactive Imagination
People with an overactive imagination tend to be more afraid of the dark than others. Their minds excel at conjuring up all kinds of frightening scenarios of what could happen in a dark room or abandoned house. Vivid imagery comes easy to them, including creepy visualizations.
Overactive imagination and darkness is a bad combination. The unknown nature of the dark is an infinite canvas for creative fears. Every shadow or sound can take on frightening implications.
Supernatural Associations
There are many supernatural associations with darkness, including ghosts, demons, monsters, and evil spirits. Scary stories, horror movies, and paranormal accounts further ingrain this connection.
Belief in supernatural malevolent entities makes darkness seem even more threatening. People who believe in these dark forces are naturally very afraid of the vulnerability that darkness brings. The dark provides cover for these immaterial evils.
Traumatic Memories
Past traumatic events experienced in darkness can lay the foundation for an ongoing fear. For example, someone assaulted at night will likely feel anxiety when walking alone in the dark. Bad things happening when visibility is low can ingrain darkness as a trigger.
Post traumatic stress disorder is characterized by specific triggers that recall the trauma. Dangerous or frightening events in the dark can make darkness itself the trigger, resulting in intense fear and avoidance.
Night Terrors
Some adults experience regular night terrors, or episodes of extreme fear during sleep that jolt them awake in a panic. These disturbing mid-sleep awakenings are usually accompanied by screaming, sweating, heavy breathing, racing heart beat, and intense anxiety.
Because these events happen during sleep in bed when it’s dark, the darkness can become associated with the terror. So even when fully awake, the dark stimulates dread due to its connection to the night terrors.
Phobias About the Dark
An excessive fear of darkness can develop into a phobia. Nyctophobia is an intense phobia of the dark or nighttime. Sufferers experience severe anxiety when in any dark setting.
Similar to other phobias, nyctophobia is an irrational fear far out of proportion to the actual danger. There is typically a compulsive element as well, with strong avoidance of dark places. Nyctophobia can be very disruptive if severe.
Causes in Children
Fear of the dark often takes hold in childhood for several reasons:
- Kids have hyperactive imaginations that envision dangers
- They lack experience with real threats to gauge risk
- Bedtime separation from parents is scary
- Nighttime routines disrupt their sense of order/control
- They feel vulnerable without the security of parents nearby
- Scary stories and media provoke fears
Most children outgrow their fear of darkness when they get older and realize most fears are unrealistic. But the fear persists into adulthood for some.
Gender Differences
Studies consistently show more women report being afraid of the dark compared to men. In one study of over 1,000 people:
| Gender | Percent Afraid of the Dark |
| Female | 47% |
| Male | 27% |
Reasons for this gender discrepancy may include:
- Social conditioning of gender roles
- Greater physical vulnerability felt by women
- Hormonal differences
- More concern about personal safety
Prevalence By Age
Fears about darkness tend to peak in early childhood, slowly decline into middle childhood, but then persist to some degree into adulthood:
| Age | Percent Afraid of the Dark |
| 2-3 years old | 45% |
| 4-5 years old | 35% |
| 6-9 years old | 25% |
| Over 18 years old | 15-20% |
As a person matures, irrational childhood fears subside. But an underlying worry about darkness remains for many people, even if milder than in early life.
Prevalence in Adults
It is difficult to accurately estimate how many adults are afraid of the dark. Studies show wide variation based on demographics and how the fear is measured. In broad terms:
- About 15-20% of adults report being at least mildly afraid of the dark or nighttime.
- 5-10% describe their fear of darkness as moderate or severe.
- 2-3% have a true phobia with extreme fear and avoidance.
- Women are about twice as likely as men to be afraid of the dark.
So while most adults don’t have an irrational fear of the dark, a sizable minority do to varying degrees. The fear persists from childhood for many people.
Coping With Fear of Darkness
There are various strategies for dealing with a fear of the dark, including:
- Use nightlights when appropriate
- Keep flashlights handy throughout the house
- Install motion sensor lights outdoors
- Get a pet/dog who can alert you
- Make sure doors and windows are locked
- Have someone stay over if very severe
- Use relaxation techniques to reduce anxiety
- Expose yourself slowly to build tolerance
- Get counseling for trauma/phobias
Trying to willpower through intense fear often backfires. Take gradual steps to make darkness feel safer, or seek professional help if debilitating.
Treatment for Phobias
For those with a clinical phobia of darkness, professional treatment may be warranted, such as:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) – Targets irrational thoughts/behaviors
- Exposure therapy – Gradually acclimates you to darker settings in a controlled way
- Medications – Anti-anxiety or antidepressant medications may help
- Calming strategies – Relaxation techniques, mental imagery, etc.
Talk to a psychologist or counselor to develop a customized treatment plan targeting the specific manifestations and causes of the phobia.
When to Seek Help
Consider seeking professional help for an extreme fear of darkness if it:
- Persists even in safe/familiar environments
- Causes strong physical anxiety symptoms
- Disrupts your normal routines
- Gets in the way of sleeping
- Ruins enjoyment of activities after dark
- Causes impairment or distress in daily life
If fear of the dark severely undermines your quality of life, therapeutic support can make a big difference. Relief is available with proper tools.
Conclusion
Fear of the dark is deeply rooted in human evolution and instinct. But there are also various psychological factors that can make darkness feel threatening. This fear is common in childhood, and continues at milder levels into adulthood for many people. There are ways to cope with and overcome excessive fear of darkness with gradual exposure, changes to your environment, and counseling if needed for phobias. Don’t despair if you struggle with this common phobia – help is out there.