The Four Factors of Fear

Abstract

In this chapter we will follow up on the foregoing discussions of terrorism in the emotional public sphere, and take a closer look at the fear of terrorism. We will set out a model of the dynamics of public fear, in which the origins of fear will be seen as four-fold. The model can be applied to fears of many things, such as crime, environmental catastrophe, or epidemic, but in keeping with the emphasis through much of this book the example of the fear of terrorism will be taken as a vehicle for the presentation of what is actually a generic model. The example will be followed through in the next two chapters. In Chapter 11 we will examine how the fear of terrorism is distributed across the UK population, how it varies in level and expression and is combined with other feelings. In Chapter 12 we will consider how the discourses of terrorism found in the media are likely to have an impact on different groups of the public, including on terrorists themselves. Overall this Part of the book presents, as a case study, fears of terrorism and the issues they raise for emotional governance.