Psychology says people who are scared of closed spaces, spiders, crowds or any other such thing aren't necessarily afraid of the thing they see in front of them. In many cases, the trigger represents another fear. A person inside an elevator may fear being unable to escape. A person who sees a spider may fear being harmed or contaminated. Someone in a crowd may fear losing personal safety or facing embarrassment. The brain can connect a situation with a possible threat and prepare the body to respond. This can make the fear feel immediate even when the actual danger is limited.
