Why are we afraid of the dark?

Humans' fear of the dark is rooted in our ancestors' need for survival. Jordan Harbinger discussed this with psychologist Bill von Hippel on Where the Social Leap Lands. They explained that in ancient times, being afraid of the dark made sense for our ancestors because humans are not as capable at night. Our eyes aren't effective, and our senses of smell and hearing aren't as sharp as many predators. As a result, humans were more vulnerable to predators at night. This natural selection favored those who were scared of the dark and stayed safe, leading to the inheritance of this fear by future generations 1.