How fears develop in children – a new study sets to investigate 

Through a series of fun tasks including a climbing wall, slackline and animal-based computer activities, researchers are investigating how fears and phobias are passed on from adults to children and what makes some children more resilient or susceptible than others.  

Dr Jenni Kӓhkӧnen, a postdoctoral research fellow at the School of Psychology at the University of Surrey, said:   

“Our childhood shapes who we become as adults. Childhood is a time when our fears, such as being afraid of spiders or dogs, often develop. We know that fears are often passed down through families, developing as children become more aware of the fears of those around them and learn related beliefs and behaviours from them. We are looking at childhood fears more closely and why some children seem to have more (or less) of a disposition to develop fears in this way.”  

Participants will be invited to come to the University of Surrey campus for some enjoyable child focussed tasks under the careful guidance of researchers.   

If you would like to take part in the study, please contact Dr Jenni Kӓhkӧnen (j.kahkonen@surrey.ac.uk).  

More information on the study can be found at www.ufolabsurrey.com