Science of Fear

Avoidance maintains fear
Research in psychology consistently shows that avoiding feared situations prevents the nervous system from updating its assessment of risk, allowing threat responses to persist even when danger is low.
Based on fear-processing research by Edna Foa and colleagues.

Exposure works through learning, not fear removal
Exposure does not eliminate fear. It creates new learning that allows action to continue despite fear being present, rather than waiting for fear to disappear.
Aligned with modern exposure models described by Michelle Craske.

Stress must be manageable to be adaptive
Repeated exposure to stress improves tolerance and performance only when it is controllable, voluntary, and paired with recovery. Excessive or coerced stress can reinforce avoidance.
Consistent with stress-inoculation research by Donald Meichenbaum.

Fear learning is context-dependent
Changes in fear response are often specific to the situations in which learning occurs, which is why exposure must be deliberate, structured, and appropriately varied.
Supported by learning and extinction research from Mark Bouton.

YOUC2 is informed by these principles. It does not attempt to eliminate fear or claim universal transfer — it trains approach behaviour where fear is real, observable, and relevant to performance.