The Science of Fear: How the Culture of Fear Manipulates Your Brain

by Daniel Gardner

Part of the answer lies in self-interest. Fear sells. Fear makes money. The countless companies and consultants in the business of protecting the fearful from whatever they may fear know it only too well. The more fear, the better the sales. So we have home-alarm companies frightening old ladies and young mothers by running ads featuring frightened old ladies and young mothers. Software companies scaring parents with hype about online pedophiles. Security consultants spinning scenarios of terror and death that can be avoided by spending more tax dollars on security consultants. Fear is a fantastic marketing tool, which is why we can’t turn on the television or open a newspaper without seeing it at work.