Includes bibliographical references (pages 155-173) and index.
Contents:
The sum of all fears -- Things are not what they seem -- Apocalypse how?: fear of natural, environmental, and human-made disasters -- Beyond contagion: terrorism, the media, and public fear -- Visions of crime: how the media, satan, and social factors shape fears of crime -- Consequences of fear -- Where do we go from fear?
Summary:
"From moral panics about immigration and gun control to anxiety about terrorism and natural disasters, Americans live in a culture of fear. While fear is typically discussed in emotional or poetic terms--as the opposite of courage, or as an obstacle to be overcome--it nevertheless has very real consequences in everyday life. Persistent fear negatively effects individuals' decision-making abilities and causes anxiety, depression, and poor physical health. Further, fear harms communities and society by corroding social trust and civic engagement. Yet politicians often effectively leverage fears to garner votes and companies routinely market unnecessary products that promise protection from imagined or exaggerated harms. Drawing on five years of data from the Chapman Survey of American Fears--which canvasses a random, national sample of adults about a broad range of fears--Fear Itself offers new insights into what people are afraid of and how fear affects their lives. The authors also draw on participant observation with Doomsday preppers and conspiracy theorists to provide fascinating narratives about subcultures of fear. Fear Itself is a novel, wide-ranging study of the social consequences of fear, ultimately suggesting that there is good reason to be afraid of fear itself."-- Provided by publisher.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.