Scopophobia is a type of specific phobia in which people have an excessive fear of being watched or looked at. They may be overwhelmed by a sense of danger and the need to escape.

Social anxiety disorder involves a persistent fear of being watched and judged by other people. This fear can affect work, school, daily life, and relationships.

Here, two doctors break down the science of being scared and explain why fear can be so much fun. The body reacts to fear with a primitive fight-flight-or-freeze response.

And now a new study reveals how being watched affects unconscious processing in our brain. In this era of surveillance, researchers say, the findings raise concerns about our collective mental health.