Why Do We Feel The “Urge To Jump”?

The urge to jump or high place phenomenon apparently springs from a distortion of our perceptions. Lab tests have shown that people estimate disgusting things, such as feces, to be closer than they really are. Another example is perceiving that the width of a plank on which someone is walking is smaller than it really is. Similarly, we overestimate vertical distances. This vertical bias tends to make heights feel scarier. As the height increases, so does our consequent fear. Oddly, this distance bias is absent when it comes to horizontal distances. The discomfort we feel on a ledge is eerily reminiscent of motion sickness. Motion sickness is caused by a dissonance between different sensory systems, which are crucial for maintaining balance. Symptoms arise mainly as a result of a conflict between our visual and vestibular systems.