Facing Fears: The Science Centre's Phobia Exhibit Will Test Your Limits

It's an all-too-familiar feeling, surely. Fear. It sometimes comes in slow ripples, other times in big waves that tide over you. You might sweat, feel nauseous, have trouble breathing, or find it difficult to stand still. When fear is triggered, one is caught between fleeing or fighting.

Fear, however, has always been a part of life. The Smithsonian Magazine, in a report on Oct. 27, 2017, said that fear is a "fundamental, deeply wired reaction, evolved over the history of biology" and is experienced by human-animals and non-human animals. It should be noted, though, that this "fight or flight" response that we encounter in fear is also experienced in positive emotions like happiness and excitement, and it's the perception of safety that draws the demarcation between that "rush" feeling and utter terror.

The science of fear is an interesting topic to explore as it can help shed light on why we have certain fears and others don't, and how to face and perhaps even overcome them eventually. It's one thing to read about it, yet a whole different experience to, well, experience it firsthand in a controlled setting. Thankfully, The Science Centre Singapore can help you there.

Its "Phobia²: The Science of Fear" permanent exhibition takes you on an exciting experiential journey to discover the depths of your fears. It's perfect for those who want to dip their toes into psychology, as well as others who are seriously fascinated by this scientific study.

The award-winning exhibit tackles the historical and cultural significance of fear, its psychology and physiology, and how it influences the way we live everyday.

A highlight of the exhibit is the "Buried Alive" area, which has you sliding under a coffin to experience what it feels like to be stuffed in a dark, narrow box all alone. According to exhibit notes, diagnosing death prior to modern medicine was inaccurate, which is why coffins at the time were fixed with a bell above the ground, so those who "return from the dead" can alert others that they were buried alive. Creepy!

Other fears to explore in the exhibit include a public speaking simulation, where you can go up on a podium and attempt to speak in front of an interactive video of a crowd. It sounds like a nightmare for the socially anxious and introverted, that's for sure. 

One thing you should try in the exhibit is the Scream Booth to see if your voice is screamer worthy! 

There's also the fear of exams area, which reimagines a classroom that is sure to trigger all your war flashbacks of taking math exams. The exhibit also explores phobias like arachnophobia and ophidiophobia or the extreme fear of spiders and snakes, respectively.

You will also encounter jungle animals in the dark and horrific, nightmare-inducing skeletons and evil clowns. If you've ever been terrified of the idea of opening your closet and discovering a monster within, you can test your limits by such simulations in the exhibit, too.

The exhibit is expected to last between 45 to 60 minutes and may be accessed from 10 AM-5 PM. Get your tickets here! You may contact the Science Centre here or by calling +65 6425 2500 to enquire about the exhibit as some simulations or areas may be unavailable.