Autorentext

By Ruth DeFoster and Natashia Swalve

Klappentext

Why do we fear Halloween candy but not vending machines? Why do “witch hunts” recur so often in history? How dangerous are serial killers, really?

The Fear Knot examines our most common deeply held fears, unpacking which are valid and which are misguided, explaining the history of how our irrational fears developed, and how we can unlearn them. We live in a world seemingly rife with danger, a villainous stranger or new deadly bacteria lurking around every corner. So how do we sort through these fears, determining which are well-founded and which have been manufactured? How can our biases and psychology allow these fears to overtake us, and how can we learn to think logically in a world driven by sensationalism?

In this lively and timely tour, psychologist Natashia Swalve and journalism professor Ruth DeFoster lead readers through the history and psychology behind our most visible and sensational cultural fears, beginning with the most personal—fear within our bodies—and moving outward to the home, our country, and finally to our broadest society-level fears. From micro fears, like how our fear of vaccines has led to measles epidemics, to the broad existential dread associated with climate change and gun violence, The Fear Knot examines the toll our fears take on us, on an individual and societal level. Exploring how shared culture, media consumption, and even our own brain can help drive incorrect beliefs about risk, Swalve and DeFoster help readers to make informed, evidence-based decisions about fear and risk— and along the way, to learn how to think critically, examine your own beliefs, and become confident consumers of media and popular culture.

Combining psychology and journalism in short, light-hearted chapters, The Fear Knot gives readers a fresh look at Americans’ perceptions of risk and danger, with an emphasis on how to recognize misinformation or biases, updated to include the most recent fears that Americans face in the 21st century— and the real dangers that we may be ignoring.

Inhalt

Note from the Authors

Introduction: Fear in the Past

Part 1: Fear in our Bodies
Chapter 1: Microbes
Chapter 2: Genetically Modified Organisms
Chapter 3: Vaccines
Chapter 4: Over-the-counter Drugs and Supplements

Part 2: Fear for the Young
Chapter 5: Food Fears for the Early Years
Chapter 6: Stranger Danger
Chapter 7: Real Dangers Facing Children

Part 3: Fear in the Home
Chapter 8: Pets
Chapter 9: Smart Homes
Chapter 10: Building Materials
Chapter 11: Invisible Toxins
Chapter 12: Actual Dangers at Home

Part 4: Fear in our Schools
Chapter 13: Gun Violence
Chapter 14: Indoctrination
Chapter 15: True Dangers in Schools

Part 5: Fear in our Country
Chapter 16: Drugs
Chapter 17: Mass Hysterias
Chapter 18: Serial Killers
Chapter 19: Mental Illness

Part 6: Fear in our World
Chapter 20: Immigration
Chapter 21: Terrorism
Chapter 22: Climate Change
Chapter 23: Infrastructure

Conclusion: Fear in the Future