Interesting. I'm 45, and probably less afraid of things than I used to be. I know I'm not nearly as afraid of heights as I was as a child -- I've crossed enough bridges in my life to know they're not going to collapse; I've flown enough airplanes to know that they're safe (though sudden dips are still unpleasant).

I also wonder how much of "fear" is emotional and how much is mental. For instance, I will go to drastic measures to avoid dogs -- crossing the street when I see one coming, or even turning around and walking the other way. But I don't think I "fear" them -- I have no emotional response. I simply find them noisy, annoying, and potentially dangerous. I also find buses noisy and dangerous, which is why I don't step in front of them, either. Yet my reaction to dogs would probably be labelled a fear, and my reaction to buses would be labelled common sense. What's the difference?