Fear Itself: The Causes and Consequences of Fear in America

Christopher D. Bader; Joseph O. Baker; L. Edward Day; Ann Gordon

Published by New York University Press 2020

Fear Itself

The Causes and Consequences of Fear in America

Christopher D. Bader , Joseph O. Baker , L. Edward Day and Ann Gordon

https://doi.org/10.18574/nyu/9781479849451.001.0001

Overview
Contents

About this book

An antidote to the culture of fear that dominates modern life

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.

Author / Editor information

Bader Christopher D. :

Christopher D. Bader is Professor of Sociology at Chapman University and affiliated with the Institute for Religion, Economics and Culture (IRES). He is Associate Director of the Association of Religion Data Archives (www.theARDA.com) and principal investigator on the Chapman University Survey of American Fears, as well as coauthor of Paranormal America: Ghost Encounters, UFO Sightings, Bigfoot Hunts, and Other Curiosities in Religion and Culture, second edition (also available from NYU Press).Baker Joseph O. :

Joseph O. Baker is Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at East Tennessee State University and a senior research associate for the Association of Religion Data Archives.Day L. Edward :

L. Edward Day is Associate Professor and Chair of the Sociology Department at Chapman University. He is Co-PI of the ongoing Chapman Survey of American Fears.Gordon Ann :

Ann Gordon is Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of the Ludie and David C. Henley Social Science Research Laboratory, Chapman University.

Ann Gordon is Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of the Ludie and David C. Henley Social Science Research Laboratory, Chapman University.

L. Edward Day is Associate Professor and Chair of the Sociology Department at Chapman University. He is Co-PI of the ongoing Chapman Survey of American Fears.

Christopher D. Bader is Professor of Sociology at Chapman University and affiliated with the Institute for Religion, Economics and Culture (IRES). He is Associate Director of the Association of Religion Data Archives (www.theARDA.com) and principal investigator on the Chapman University Survey of American Fears, as well as coauthor of Paranormal America: Ghost Encounters, UFO Sightings, Bigfoot Hunts, and Other Curiosities in Religion and Culture, second edition (also available from NYU Press).

Joseph O. Baker is Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at East Tennessee State University and a senior research associate for the Association of Religion Data Archives.

Reviews

Fear Itself addresses a highly salient topic that will be of interest to academic and trade audiences alike. The authors have done a commendable job of conveying statistical analyses in a manner that is easily understandable by the lay reader.

Because their survey covers the period before and after the 2016 election, the authors illustrate the ‘Trump effect’ on partisan fears, demonstrating that liberals and conservatives are both fearful, though of different things.

Fear Itself is full of interesting correlations...[it] ends with advice about steps that might help dial down unnecessary dread.

Barry Glassner, author of The Culture of Fear: Why Americans Are Afraid of the Wrong Things:
Those of us who study fear have long been grateful for the Chapman University Survey of American Fears. In this important book, the scholars behind that survey examine their data and provide invaluable insights into what Americans fear and the effects of those fears.

Steve Pfaff, University of Washington:
A careful, well-reasoned, and convincing study of fear in contemporary American society.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Foreword Earl Babbie Publicly Available Download PDF	ix
Introduction Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
1. The Sum of All Fears Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	13
2. Things Are Not What They Seem Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	31
3. Apocalypse How? Fear of Natural, Environmental, and Human- Made Disasters Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	59
4. Beyond Contagion: Terrorism, the Media, and Public Fear Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	73
5. Visions of Crime: How the Media, Satan, and Social Factors Shape Fears of Crime Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	91
6. Consequences of Fear Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	113
Conclusion: Where Do We Go from Fear? Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	127
Acknowledgments Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	137
Notes Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	139
References Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	155
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	175
About the Authors Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	185

Language: English
Publisher: New York University Press
Audience: Professional and scholarly;
Illustrations
- Other: 19 black and white illustrations
Keywords: chapman survey of american fears; pandemic; immigration; islamophobia; conspiracy theory; doomsday; anxiety; fearful; risk; threat; psychology of fear; emotional responses; fear control; danger control; behavior; frightened; fear of crime; american media

eBook

Published: March 3, 2020
ISBN: 9781479849451