| Don't worry, be [pragmatically] happy! |
[Dec. 11th, 2003|01:14 pm] |
Fear of new things shortens life
Animals with an innate phobia of novelty have higher levels of stress hormones after a new experience and die significantly younger than their braver kin, new research has found. The work suggests that a lifetime of fearful stress can take an accumulated toll on health.
Living longer is a good thing, but in dangerous environments - say, full of predators or poisonous plants - the rat that runs away from the unknown may live to pass on its genes another day. |
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