Understanding the Psychology of Fear in Stunt Work and how we use it to achieve incredible things

Imagine standing on the edge of a building, preparing for a High-Fall Stunt. Or even just repeating a simple movement that might aggravate a previous injury .... Fear can set in. Your heart races, palms sweat—fear sets in.

But what if we told you that "Fear is just a lack of knowledge", and by understanding and managing this fear it could be the key to not just performing the stunt successfully but also performing even better, and more safely?

Fear is Natural!
Brave people don't hide their fears, they face them. Own you fear. Everybody experiences fear at times, it is so normal. What is not normal in our industry is to do nothing about it, which places you and others into far greater risk of your fear's coming true!

​The important thing is to admit that to yourself and to speak up. Nothin is worse than someone hiding a fear and going beyond their limits, aside from creating trauma or leaving them stuck, sometimes literally and physically, it also creates a massive risk. If you're on a high platform and freeze up, you might need a rescue, or you might fall, or you might not fall correctly. So, at The ISA we embrace fear as a natural and normal thing for performers to experience and use trusted techniques to work with it, ease it or put it to good use!

"I live my life through fear.
If I'm afraid of it I'll do it just so I'm not afraid of
it anymore." 
- Jeremy Renner

Understanding Fear: The Physiology and Psychology
Fear is not just an emotion; it's a complex physiological and psychological response that involves the release of adrenaline, heightened senses, and sometimes, paralysis. Understanding the science behind fear can help you manage it better.

Fear vs. Caution: A Fine Line 
Healthy caution is good to have, and its basically a risk assessment our mind performer, consciously and unconsciously. Meanwhile debilitating fear (stuff that makes us dream, feel anxious or even freeze up or react differently to how we have trained) can hinder performance and even lead to serious accidents.

Knowing the difference between a Healthy Caution and a Debilitating Fear is very, very crucial in Professional Stunt Work. Mistake them and you can ignore a risk or even put yourself and others into harm's way. 

The Dangers of Fear: Increased Risk of Accidents
Unmanaged fear, especially in scenarios involving heights, acrobatic movements or falls / impacts, can lead to hesitation, poor decision-making in the moment, and incorrect physical reactions or body movements, increasing the risk of accidents. In addition things like unaddressed / badly managed Vertigo can easily lead to freezes or falls.

Techniques to Overcome Fear

• Mindfulness and Breathing Exercises
• Exposure Therapy
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

2 few of The Most Common Fears We Encounter in Training Performers

• Fear of Heights (Acrophobia). Phobia's are very normal and are often hard-wired instincts that are just there to protect us. Sometimes a past trauma such as a bad fall can really amp these up. The important thing is to be honest and open with yourself and your trainers about this. most of the time it is actually very easy to address this. 
• Fear of Re-injury. This is so common you wouldn't believe it, in Stunts and Sports. An injury happens and the performer / athlete never recovers to 100% because the ghost of the injury lingers in the mind and we hold back, which often leads to re-injury or over-compensation injuries. While these are incredibly common, thankfully they are also very easy to fix!

Hypothetical Case Studies

• Case Study 1: Overcoming Acrophobia
  • Scenario: A stunt performer has a fear of heights but aspires to overcome this and perform a High-Fall.
  • Solution: The Performer undergoes gradual exposure therapy, starting with lower heights and working up, combined with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to address the mental aspects of the fear.
    
    
• Case Study 2: Returning After an Injury
  • Scenario: A seasoned stunt performer, had a serious ankle sprain injury while training and is now afraid of re-injury.
  • Solution: Utilising psychology and physiotherapy it is possible to aid a return to peak performance, with mental conditioning, physical conditioning and visualisation techniques. We can also use physical therapy to train out an underlying cause that led to the injury and help the performer to regain confidence in their body's capabilities.

Expert Opinions

• Samantha Larson, an extreme athlete, says, "Fear is such a personal thing, but in a lot of situations, fear is just a reaction of the human brain, which is wired to convince us that what we may want to do is a bad idea. When we face fear, we have to ask ourselves how badly we want that thing that we’re afraid of, and how can we learn to work through the fear when we feel it."
• Robert Herbst, a U.S. National and World Champion powerlifter, emphasizes the role of preparation: "Preparation reduces risk because it enables you to deal with situations as they arise. If you are prepared, then you know you have the answer, and you can rely on their training. There is then less to fear as you know you can cope."
  
  

Understanding and managing fear is not just about courage; it's about mastering your craft and ensuring your safety. Confront your fears to unlock your full potential in stunt work and reduce the risk of accidents.

Join The ISA and come with us on a journey to unlock your true potential, and if you fear you aren't good enough or maybe something's getting in the way, talk to us. That's what we are here for ;)

About the Author

Gavin Martin is the Principal of The International Stunt Academy and a recognised authority in stunts, film, and human performance. With a scientific approach to dissecting techniques and enhancing performance, he's equally passionate about the art and psychology of Stunts, Acting, Performance and Film-making. Before joining The ISA, he worked globally as a Coach, Motivational Speaker, and Creative Director, collaborating with many of the world's leading brands and innovating in digital film and production techniques. Known for his targeted coaching philosophy, Gavin is an agent for rapid, effective change. He values progress over accolades and pushes hard for the rapid and effective changes that moves us all forwards.