The annual Chapman University Survey of American Fears provides an in-depth examination into the concerns of average Americans, tracking changes and trends over the years. The survey asks about topics ranging from government, health and environmental matters, to disaster preparedness, the paranormal and personal anxieties.
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America's Top Fears 2022The Chapman University Survey of American Fears Wave 8 (2022) provides an unprecedented look into the fears of average Americans. -
Fear of Corrupt Government 2022Fear of corrupt government officials has remained the greatest fear for yet another year since first landing in the spot in 2015. The fear, however, has experienced a steep drop from 79.6% (2020/21) to 62.1% (2022). -
Fear of Mass Shootings 2022In 2022, mass shootings have spiked and continuously become a growing fear for Americans. -
Fear of Gun Restrictions 2022Shootings in schools, malls, and other public places have become common occurrences, and there is a push from interest groups and individuals to change gun laws in the US to prevent more mass shootings.
» The Division on the Study of American Fears
American’s Top Fears 2022
The following is a list of the top 10 fears for 2022, taken from the Chapman University Survey of American Fears. Fears are ranked by the percent of Americans who reported being afraid or very afraid.
Fear of Increased Gun Restrictions 2022
The last decade has seen a surge in gun violence in the United States. Shootings in schools, malls, and other public places have become common occurrences, and there is a push from interest groups and individuals to change gun laws in the United States to prevent more mass shootings and gun deaths.
Fear of Mass Shootings 2022
In 2022, mass shootings have spiked and continuously become a growing fear for Americans. The study collected data to examine the following independent variables: age, race, and gender. The research gathered data to evaluate if there is a direct correlation among the independent variables and the dependent variable, fear of random and mass shootings.
Fear of Violent Overthrown of the U.S. Government 2022
Fear of corrupt government officials has remained the greatest fear for yet another year since first landing in the spot in 2015. The fear, however, has experienced a steep drop from 79.6% (2020/21) to 62.1% (2022), the lowest it has been since 2016.
The Causes and Consequences of Fear in America
Fear Itself
The Causes and Consequences of Fear in America
By Christopher D. Bader, Joseph O. Baker, L.Edward Day and Ann Gordon
Foreward by Earl Babbie
Published by: NYU Press
An antidote to the culture of fear that dominates modern life
From moral panics about immigration and gun control to anxiety about terrorism and natural disasters, Americans live in a culture of fear. While fear is typically discussed in emotional or poetic terms—as the opposite of courage, or as an obstacle to be overcome—it nevertheless has very real consequences in everyday life. Persistent fear negatively effects individuals’ decision-making abilities and causes anxiety, depression, and poor physical health. Further, fear harms communities and society by corroding social trust and civic engagement. Yet politicians often effectively leverage fears to garner votes and companies routinely market unnecessary products that promise protection from imagined or exaggerated harms.
Drawing on five years of data from the Chapman Survey of American Fears—which canvasses a random, national sample of adults about a broad range of fears—Fear Itself offers new insights into what people are afraid of and how fear affects their lives. The authors also draw on participant observation with Doomsday preppers and conspiracy theorists to provide fascinating narratives about subcultures of fear.
Fear Itself is a novel, wide-ranging study of the social consequences of fear, ultimately suggesting that there is good reason to be afraid of fear itself.
Praise for Fear Itself:
"Those of us who study fear have long been grateful for the Chapman University Survey of American Fears. In this important book, the scholars behind that survey examine their data and provide invaluable insights into what Americans fear and the effects of those fears."
Barry Glassner, author of The Culture of Fear: Why Americans Are Afraid of the Wrong Things
"A careful, well-reasoned, and convincing study of fear in contemporary American society."
Steve Pfaff, University of Washington
Past Fear Survey Articles
- American’s Top Fears 2020-21
- Understanding Vaccine Hesitancy in American 2020-2021
- Fear of COVID-19 in America 2020-20201
- Fear of Civil Unrest 2020-2021
- America's Top Fears 2019
- Fear and the 2020 Election
- Fleeing Death: Disaster Evacuations in America
- Paranormal America 2018
- Fear of Immigration
- Fear of Muslims in American Society
Survey Reports
2022
- Methodology Report
- Survey of American Fears 2020/21 and 2022 Compared
- Alphabetical List of Fears
- Percentage List of Fears
2020/21
- Full Survey and Methodology
- Alphabetical List of Fears
- Percentage List of Fears
- Top Fears by Gender
- Top Fears by Party Affiliation
2019
2018
- Alphabetical List of Fears 2018
- Percentage List of Fears 2018
- Top 10 Fears by Gender 2018
- Top 10 Fears by Party Affiliation 2018
Fear Survey Infographics 2018
- Fear Survey Summary PDF | JPG
- Top Fears 2018 (icons) PDF | JPG
- Top Fears 2018 (bar graph) PDF | JPG
- Why Americans Don't Evacuate (bar graph) PDF | JPG
- Paranormal Activity (icons) PDF | JPG
- Paranormal Beliefs (bar graph) PDF | JPG
Contact Us
Top 10 fears,
Conspiracy Theories,
the Paranormal
Conspiracy Theories,
the Paranormal
Dr. Edward Day
Islamophobia,
Fear-Based Actions
Islamophobia,
Fear-Based Actions
Responses to Disasters
and Terrorism
and Terrorism