[–] midnightblue1335 0 points 4 points (+4|-0) ago 

There is a direct correlation to intelligence and fear.

Dumb people fear nothing.

This is the Dunning-Kreuger effect, IIRC: essentially, the more confident a person is, the lower their IQ likely is. This doesn't mean confidence=stupidity.

IMO, an intelligent person going into a dangerous situation should absolutely be afraid. But they could be confident for a number of reasons- because they know they are well prepared for the situation with weapons, training, a plan, etc.. A dumb person will just be confident because they lack the ability to consider the dangers. And then they usually end up dead.

HP Lovecraft was obscenely intelligent, I think; but he had no good male figures to teach him to tame and face these fears, so he retreated inward and channeled his fear into his writings.

[–] Sir_Ebral 0 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago 

That's a good point, but I referred to the difference between being smart and being scared.

A man can have 200 I.Q. and know that painting a target on his back isn't a good survival strategy. That doesn't mean he's scared, it means he's smart. Why expose yourself and your family to unnecessary danger?

Like not walking alone and unarmed into a den of your enemies. Smart, not "scared."