The Culture of Fear and Its Effects on Society Essay

The Culture of Fear and its Effects on Society Min Kim Fear and the marketing of paranoia and uncertainty have become daily staples in today’s culture. Every day there arise new threats to national security manufactured by politicians and fuelled by the public’s demand to be protected from these imaginary bogeymen. With the vast increases in technology our society has experienced in the past forty years the news media have become an especially effective orator of impending doom, the daily exposà ©s about the â€Å"silent killer† that lurks in your kitchen cabinet; bombard our society daily with dozens of urgent reminders of the real and imagined dangers that lurk in and outside our homes. The consumption of fear has become a diet our society†¦show more content†¦In conjunction with the media, fear mongering is quickly warping our society into one that only harbors fear and paranoia towards each other (Perceptions of crime and anti-social behaviour: Findings from the 2008/09 British Crime Survey). As instances of violent crime decline the media has ramped up reporting instances of violent or disturbing crimes, according to a recent Gallup poll they approximated that about half of Americans are now more concerned about crime since 2004 (Perceptions of Crime Problem Remain Curiously Negative, 2007) even though crime has been shown to be in decline since 1993(Reflections on the Crime Decline? Lessons for the Future?, 2002) during this time media reporting on crime nearly quadrupled (Do You Believe What Newspeople Tell you? Arlington, VA: Newseum and The Roper Group 1997). The hysteria in the aftermath of the Columbine shootings and Michael Moore’s exploitative documentary there was an uproar across the entire nation about the prevalence of easily accessible firearms, the effects of violent entertainment on youth and security in schools. The response to these fear fuelled flames was to enact draconian zero tolerance policies in public schools across the country that have fo rced teachers and administrators to suspend or even expel students outright when before they were allowed greaterShow MoreRelatedHorror Films: Things That Go Bump in the Night Essay1265 Words   |  6 Pageshave all had a special interest in horror as long as we can remember. Whether our outlet is through fables, movies, or even figments of our imaginations we all find reason to fear something. (ScienceDaily). The issue is when we begin reaching out to these outlets and pursuing them, putting ourselves in the environment of fear to feel the exhilaration of being frightened but the question is why? Many scientists have given their own explanation to this question but they all differ and there is no solidRead MoreZombie Symbolism Essay1101 Words   |  5 Pagesfor the violence, fear, and atrocities of the modern world. These mindless creatures are the popular symbol representing the living dead; with their empty-headed behaviors and their oozing brains, they are the main contributo r to the ever-developing market of science and fantasy that is without a glass ceiling. In today’s society, zombies can be considered the focal point of our fear-obsessed environment, literally and figuratively. However, this ever-expanding market has society curious purely basedRead MoreThe Fear of the Number 13-Triskaidekaphobia1119 Words   |  5 PagesSpecific Purpose: To inform my audience about the superstition of the fear of the number 13 Introduction I. Attention Getter: Have you ever wondered why school multiplication tables stop at 12x12 or why if you go to most hotels they do not have a 13th floor but instead a 12A? No one knows seems to know why but the fear of the number 13 has been around for as long as we can remember. II. Credentials: I have intensively researched this superstition so I am well informed to educate you about thisRead MoreWhy Herd Culture Must Exist1066 Words   |  5 PagesA herd society is made up of people who are uncritical and mindlessly follow rules previously laid out for them. Members of this society try to act parallel with other members in their society. Nietzsche says this is the way humans are constructed. The average person is conditioned to conform and obey an authority figure. This is why herd culture must exist. Humans have an instinct to obey (110). The content of command does not matter because most people just want to act upon what society tells themRead MoreThe Effects Of Isolation On The Society1699 Words   |  7 PagesDaniella Saccocio The Effects of Isolation As a culture, Americans fear what they do not understand, but they more vehemently fear themselves and what they can become. Because of this aversion, Americans are conditioned to fear zombies not because of their monstrous appearance and cannibalistic eating habits, but because of their ability to become them. This fear translates to the American view on obesity. Not only do Americans misunderstand the notion of obesity, but they also fear becoming obese. AsRead MoreRough Seas And Overcrowded Boats Await Travelers Who Have1663 Words   |  7 Pagesbut also it benefits society, why is every country not opening their borders? With the lack of initial capacity, high start-up cost, and little to no recovery time between new refugees, societies have been stretched, and are fearful of losing their own stability. After refugees face the political hurdles of entering the country and applying/gaining staying-rights, another hurdle is transforming from being a refugee to resident. Consequences of Mass Immigration The effects of the refugee-lifeRead MoreA World Riddled By Social Expectations And Beauty Ideals1304 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction: Biology and culture are intertwined forces that affect all populations from a global perspective. This fact brings up an interesting question regarding the origins of pathology. While there are a miscellany of somatic illnesses explained by biological means, mental illnesses seem to have more of an environmental aspect to their origins, but there is controversy surrounding this detail. Even when knowing the biological etiology of mental disorders, the culture and environment is stillRead MorePower Can Escalate A Situation Substantially, Leaving Many1176 Words   |  5 Pagessegregation and misery throughout many generations. Power causes major diversity throughout races by counteracting the progress that the African American society makes. The goal for the African american society is to get equal treatment and status this infuriates the White Sup remacist society. Racism is what counteracts the struggle that the African American society goes through for equality. Racism is defined as â€Å"the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to thatRead MoreGay, Latino, And Macho By Albert Serna Jr. And The Essay, Masculinity As Homophobia Essay1109 Words   |  5 Pagesboth effect by the gender scripts that are established by institutions. However, Kimmel and Serna bring light upon the issues in different manners. Kimmel states that Masculinity is a mental burden upon men who are unable to truly express themselves without being seen by society as a â€Å"sissy, untough, uncool† (Kimmel, 44). Consequently, this leads many heterosexual males to develop an â€Å"irrational fear of gay men† (Kimmel,44).Contrary to Kimmel’s essay, Serna address how the Machismo Culture (a strongRead More Postmans Amusing Ourselves to Death Essay678 Words   |  3 Pagesmedia, and the effe ct it has on society. To often we think nothing of what we see and read in the media, but after reading this book you see things a lot differently. Postman believes that the culture is shaped by how its media is conducted. In the age of typography, for example, politicians spoke of how people wrote. In today?s society the news is broadcasted in bits and pieces, and the unrelated topics are all thrown up and tied together with the phrase Now and This. Our culture, he states,