Lots of mammals do this too. I've walked up on a deer where it's so confused as to how you got close to it that it just stands there deciding what to do.

That's actually a very evolutionarily logical response to encountering a predator though.

Most predators can outrun deer (and ever more so, humans). If you start running, they WILL instinctively chase and kill you. If you stand there, look big, and stare at them like you don't give a shit, predators actually start to question their own confidence and there is a good chance they will walk away rather than take a chance with you.

As for geological events, I imagine evolution hasn't really optimized much for that. They are extremely rare, if you're a deer standing on an erupting volcano you can't exactly outrun it either.

In deer, it could be a case of chronic wasting disease

Or maybe too accustomed to human company.

Yeah the deer out where I live will let you pet them if you are deliberate about it.

There's also "Fawn". i.e. play along in the hope you don't get hurt.

Pulling out your phone and hitting record doesn't quite qualify as "freeze".

The default is freeze, or trip and fall.