Exploring the sociology of fear
A CLC Connects Podcast
In this episode of CLC Connects, host Jessey Prugh sits down with David Asma, who has taught Sociology, social media and new media at the College of Lake County. He also works as an investigator for the Lake County Public Defender.
David explores moral panic, fear of the "other" and media literacy. He explains how sensational news and myths can create and maintain fear. As well as why we enjoy being afraid.
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This following podcast transcript was generated with help from artificial intelligence.
Jessey Prugh: Welcome to CLC Connects, the podcast that connects College of Lake County experts with you to talk about anything and everything you might want to know. I'm your host, Jessey Prugh. This week, I'm chatting with David Asma about the sociology of fear. Dave is an investigator with the Lake County Public Defender's Office. He's also a longtime CLC faculty member, teaching sociology, social media and new media. In this episode, we'll talk about moral panic, the fear of the other, and media literacy. So, stay tuned.
So, Dave, why are we so afraid? And what are we afraid of?
David Asma: We go straight to the big question! We're afraid of a lot of things that might seem different to us. We're concerned about things that are unusual or foreign, and this concern can be perceived as threatening. Given geopolitical and environmental issues, people are worried about what they see in the news and media, which shapes how we perceive the world around us.
We often become suspicious of people who don’t look or sound like us or live nearby. They become easy targets for our fears. Think of the masks that children and adults wear for Halloween. It’s not a mask of themselves; it represents something else. While we know there’s a person underneath, that mask suggests existential otherness. This fear of the other is significant not just during Halloween but in everyday life. People may worry about immigration, alleged criminals, and other perceived threats, all of which induce more fear. We consume this fear like a meal, even if it gives us indigestion. In sociology, we're interested in the external factors that impact our lives and how we internalize those factors and act accordingly. Much of sociology examines external environments rather than internal psychological aspects.
Jessey: So, we’re discussing our collective fears rather than just personal fears, like being afraid of the dark.
David: Exactly. Collective fears shape our experiences. While we can be afraid of the dark, that fear usually arises from experiences or societal teachings rather than a genetic predisposition. We have to be told or experience it for ourselves to become fearful. People who grow up around trauma or consume crime-related media might view the outside world differently, leading to varying levels of fearfulness.
Jessey: What are we regularly consuming that makes us afraid of things like crime or other people, which might not be as bad as we think?
David: There’s a longstanding analysis of why people are concerned about crime. While crime is a visceral fear, the question is: How bad is it really? Crime rates have dropped significantly since the late '80s and '90s, but you wouldn’t know that based on the media’s portrayal. We're bombarded with narratives that suggest we're experiencing an epidemic of crime.
For instance, criminology students might estimate the murder rate in the U.S. to be around 215,000 annually when the actual number hovers around 15,000 to 18,000. This disparity stems from the availability heuristic—what we hear and see most shapes our assumptions about reality. Constant exposure to crime-related media leads us to believe we live in a more dangerous world than we actually do.
Jessey: It sounds like our media consumption has become a habit, even unhealthy.
David: Absolutely. We now have terms like "doom-scrolling" for when we get lost in negative news online. It's good to be informed, but there's a balance between being aware and becoming obsessed with fear-inducing news. Media outlets intentionally choose sensational stories to capture attention because, as they say, "if it bleeds, it leads."
Jessey: When I was a digital communication major, I encountered discussions about how social media could be detrimental, which causes its own moral panic. But really, it’s just an evolution of how we communicate.
David: Exactly. With any change, especially in technology, there are concerns from those unfamiliar with it. When railroads began passenger travel, there were fears that traveling at 30 miles per hour would harm human bodies. Similarly, fears about new technologies, like phonographs, claimed they would ruin human vocal cords.
Even today, there’s a notion that the internet is making us dumber. While there are valid concerns, the internet also opens vast opportunities for learning. It’s essential to consider both the positive and negative impacts of these technological changes.
Jessey: On a related note, I remember the childhood fear of finding razor blades in Halloween apples. That seems to persist, and now we’re hearing about fentanyl in candy.
David: Let’s backtrack. The razor blade in the apple myth has created a moral panic around Halloween. Parents are warned to check their children's candy because of the fear of strangers harming them. However, research shows that incidents of tampered candy are incredibly rare, with documented cases often involving parents.
Recently, the fear surrounding fentanyl is similar. While fentanyl is dangerous, the idea that drug dealers would give it away for free on Halloween is unrealistic. This fear is just another manifestation of the razor blade myth.
Jessey: These myths often lead to broader moral panics. Do we, as a culture, enjoy being afraid?
David: There’s certainly a titillating aspect to fear, especially in horror movies. We can enjoy fear in a controlled environment. Being afraid is exciting and can distract us from more frightening issues. Which comes back full circle to moral panic.
Jessey: Halloween seems to be as big as Christmas these days. What is it about Halloween that encourages us to celebrate fear?
David: Are we truly celebrating fear, or just engaging with it in a playful way? If Halloween were genuinely about fear, it would likely have been abandoned. Instead, it’s become a fun holiday filled with costumes and spooky decorations, allowing us to confront our fears in a more lighthearted context.
Jessey: It's interesting that we carry moral panic into this holiday with fears about apples and fentanyl, even during a time meant for fun.
David: Moral panic can infiltrate any occasion, even Halloween. We might enjoy the holiday, but there’s always an underlying concern about safety. But the practicalities of tampering candy are so far-fetched.
Jessey: How can we avoid moral panic and live without fear of the wrong things?
David: It’s challenging, given the constant exposure to fear-inducing narratives. However, awareness of these fears is crucial. We should practice media literacy and be skeptical of what we consume. Recognizing sensationalism and questioning narratives helps us avoid falling into the trap of moral panic.
Jessey: Absolutely. It’s okay to question things and seek out more information. Thank you for coming in today; this has been a fascinating conversation.
David: My pleasure!
Jessey: I also hear you have fantastic Halloween decorations.
David: It can be a lot of work, but I enjoy creating a spooky atmosphere with atmospheric lighting and fog machines.
Jessey: Thanks for joining us today!
David: Thank you!
Jessey: We're halfway through our first season! Have you been enjoying CLC Connects? Please leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts, so others can find the show. If you have a question, CLC has an expert for that. Send your show ideas or questions to pr.podcast@clcillinois.edu. CLC Connects is a production of the PR Marketing Department, with music by faculty member and today’s guest, David Asma. Subscribe to CLC Connects wherever you listen to podcasts!