Description
Book Synopsis National panics about crime, immigrants, police, and societal degradation have been pervasive in the United States of the 21st century. Many of these fears begin as mere phantom fears, but are systematically amplified by social media, news media, bad actors and even well-intentioned activists. There are numerous challenges facing the U.S., but Americans must sort through which fears are legitimate threats and which are amplified exaggerations.
This book examines the role of fear in national panics and addresses why many Americans believe the country is in horrible shape and will continue to deteriorate (despite contradictory evidence). Political polarization, racism, sexism, economic inequality, and other social issues are examined. Combining media literacy, folklore, investigative journalism, psychology, neuroscience, and critical thinking approaches, this book reveals the powerful role that fear plays in clouding perceptions about the U.S. It not only records the reper
Table of Contents
- Acknowledgments vi
- Introduction 1
- Chapter
- News Versus Noise 9
- Chapter
- Half Empty 24
- Chapter
- How Media Mangle, Mislead and Magnify 65
- Chapter
- Phantom Activism and Social Sabotage: Why Things Don't Seem to Improve 101
- Chapter
- Them and Us, Straw Men and Boogeymen 150
- Chapter
- Science-Based Solutions 192
- References 215
- Index 223
