Panic  

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-'''Panic''' is the primal urge to run and hide in the face of imminent danger. It is a sudden [[fear]] which dominates or replaces thinking and often affects groups of people or animals. Panics typically occur in [[disaster]] situations, or violent situations (such as [[robbery]], [[home invasion]], a [[shooting]] [[rampage]], etc.) which may endanger the overall health of the affected group. The word ''panic'' derives from the name of the Greek [[Deity|god]] [[Pan (mythology)|Pan]], who is said to have the ability to cause fear of lonely or open places.+'''Panic''' is a sudden sensation of [[fear]] which is so strong as to dominate or prevent [[reason]] and [[logical]] thinking, replacing it with overwhelming feelings of [[anxiety]] and frantic [[Psychomotor agitation|agitation]] consistent with an animalistic [[Fight-or-flight response|fight or flight]] reaction. Panic may occur singularly in individuals or manifest suddenly in large groups as [[mass panic]] (closely related to [[herd behavior]]).
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 +The word ''panic'' derives from the [[Greek language|Greek]] ''πανικός'', "pertaining to shepherd god [[Pan (mythology)|Pan]]", who took amusement from frightening herds of goats and sheep into sudden bursts of uncontrollable fear. The ancient [[Greeks]] credited the battle of [[Marathon]]'s victory to Pan, using his name for the frenzied, frantic fear exhibited by the fleeing enemy soldiers.
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 +[[Human evolution#Before Homo|Prehistoric men]] used mass panic as a technique when hunting animals, especially [[ruminant]]s. [[Herd]]s reacting to unusually strong sounds or unfamiliar visual effects were directed towards [[cliff]]s, where they eventually jumped to their deaths when cornered. [[Humans]] are also vulnerable to panic and it is often considered infectious, in the sense one person's panic may easily spread to other people nearby and soon the entire group acts [[Irrationality|irrational]]ly, but people also have the ability to prevent and/or control their own and others' panic by disciplined thinking or training (such as disaster drills). [[Architect]]s and [[city planner]]s try to accommodate the [[symptom]]s of panic, such as [[herd behavior]], during [[design]] and [[planning]], often using [[simulation]]s to determine the best way to lead people to a safe exit and prevent congestion ([[stampede]]s). The most effective methods are often non-intuitive. A tall column, approximately 1 ft (300 mm) in diameter, placed in front of the door exit at a precisely calculated distance, may speed up the evacuation of a large room by up to 30%, as the obstacle divides the congestion well ahead of the choke point.
 + 
 +An influential theoretical treatment of panic is found in [[Neil Smelser|Neil J. Smelser]]'s, ''[[Theory of Collective Behavior]]''. The science of panic management has found important practical applications in the armed forces and emergency services of the world.
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 +Many highly publicized cases of deadly panic occurred during massive public events. The layout of [[Mecca]] was extensively redesigned by [[Saudi]] authorities in an attempt to eliminate frequent [[stampede]]s, which kill an average of 250 [[pilgrim]]s every year. [[Football]] stadiums have seen deadly crowd rushes and stampedes, such as at [[Hillsborough disaster|Hillsborough stadium]] in [[Sheffield]], [[England]], in 1989. This led to controlled entry gates and stricter rules by the end of the 1980s to regulate seating arrangements.
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== See also == == See also ==
-*[[Panic Movement]]+* [[Anxiety]]
 +* [[Fight-or-flight response]]
 +* [[Angst]]
 +* [[Collective behavior]]
 +* [[Emotion]]
 +* [[Fear]]
 +* [[Hysteria]]
 +* [[Kernel panic]]
 +* [[Panic hit]]
 +* [[Panic disorder]]
 +* [[Panic Movement]]
{{GFDL}} {{GFDL}}

Revision as of 16:11, 12 December 2010

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Panic is a sudden sensation of fear which is so strong as to dominate or prevent reason and logical thinking, replacing it with overwhelming feelings of anxiety and frantic agitation consistent with an animalistic fight or flight reaction. Panic may occur singularly in individuals or manifest suddenly in large groups as mass panic (closely related to herd behavior).

The word panic derives from the Greek πανικός, "pertaining to shepherd god Pan", who took amusement from frightening herds of goats and sheep into sudden bursts of uncontrollable fear. The ancient Greeks credited the battle of Marathon's victory to Pan, using his name for the frenzied, frantic fear exhibited by the fleeing enemy soldiers.

Prehistoric men used mass panic as a technique when hunting animals, especially ruminants. Herds reacting to unusually strong sounds or unfamiliar visual effects were directed towards cliffs, where they eventually jumped to their deaths when cornered. Humans are also vulnerable to panic and it is often considered infectious, in the sense one person's panic may easily spread to other people nearby and soon the entire group acts irrationally, but people also have the ability to prevent and/or control their own and others' panic by disciplined thinking or training (such as disaster drills). Architects and city planners try to accommodate the symptoms of panic, such as herd behavior, during design and planning, often using simulations to determine the best way to lead people to a safe exit and prevent congestion (stampedes). The most effective methods are often non-intuitive. A tall column, approximately 1 ft (300 mm) in diameter, placed in front of the door exit at a precisely calculated distance, may speed up the evacuation of a large room by up to 30%, as the obstacle divides the congestion well ahead of the choke point.

An influential theoretical treatment of panic is found in Neil J. Smelser's, Theory of Collective Behavior. The science of panic management has found important practical applications in the armed forces and emergency services of the world.

Many highly publicized cases of deadly panic occurred during massive public events. The layout of Mecca was extensively redesigned by Saudi authorities in an attempt to eliminate frequent stampedes, which kill an average of 250 pilgrims every year. Football stadiums have seen deadly crowd rushes and stampedes, such as at Hillsborough stadium in Sheffield, England, in 1989. This led to controlled entry gates and stricter rules by the end of the 1980s to regulate seating arrangements.

See also




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