chapman university survey of american fears public speaking chapman university survey of american fears public speaking

9 spot on the list. I call this a "smaller fears." The Chapman Survey on American Fears included1,500 participants from across the nation and all walks of life. Since Trumps election, Americans are increasing fearful of pollution, global warming and other environmental disasters. The U.S. will be involved in another world war, 17. More information: CCPA/CPRA: Do Not Sell or Share My Information. The survey also shed light on certain characteristics of people who believe in the paranormal. view more. The 2016 survey shows that the top 10 things Americans fear the most are: "The 2016 survey data shows us the top fears have shifted from last year's, which were heavily based in economic and 'big brother' type issues to include more health and financial fears this year," said Christopher Bader, Ph.D., professor of sociology at Chapman University, who led the team effort. Of the 1,020 people surveyed, only 29% were afraid of dying themselves and 58% were afraid of a loved one dying. Clowns (7.6 percent feared) are officially scarier than ghosts (7.3 percent), but zombies are scarier than both (8.9 percent). The Chapman University Survey on American Fears website offers the full article on Americas Top Fears 2022 and articles on Americas Fear of Corrupt Government, Fear of Mass Shootings and Fear of Gun Restrictions. People with the highest levels of paranormal beliefs have the following traits: Roughly one percent of the U.S. adult population are Muslims. "Although the trend isn't perfect, as a general rule, Americans are more afraid of extremist groups that have been discussed in the media," said Ed Day, Ph.D., chair of Chapman's sociology department. Simply put, the person with the highest number of paranormal beliefs in the United States as of 2017 will tend to be a lower income, female living in a rural area in the Western states. Just because gun-toting preppers, survivalists, supremacists and other strains of libertarians have fears doesnt mean they are not paranoid. According to the Chapman University Survey on American Fears, public speaking is regarded as the number one fear in America, with 25.3 percent of Americans say they fear speaking in front of a crowd. The results landed fear of a nuclear attack from Russia in the top three, with 59.6% of Americans afraid of Russia using nuclear weapons. A 2014 survey by Chapman University found a fear of public speaking was the biggest phobia among respondents - 25.3% said they feared speaking in front of a crowd. 2073 0 obj <> endobj 48 percent fear being the victim of terrorism and 44 percent fear a terror attack in general. Phys.org is a part of Science X network. The results show that a large proportion of the adult American population distrusts Muslims and believes extra security should be employed against them. 2012-2023 Chapman University, The Chapman University Survey of American Fears (CSAF), The Chapman University Survey on American Fears, Crean College of Health & Behavioral Sciences, Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, & Social Second annual Survey of American Fears released, What do Americans fear? Both the fear of people I love becoming seriously ill and the fear of people I love dying landed in the top 10 each year except for 2017, and in the top five since 2019. Sciences, Argyros School of Business & Learn more about Chapman University: www.chapman.edu. Assuming a certain baseline of fear that we all carry with us, do we apply that fear to what we might call trivial items in the absence of larger threats, such as haunted houses versus economic collapse, so we are afraid of more little things in times of peace and prosperity? The survey asked respondents about 80 different fears across a broad range of categories including fears about the government, the environment, terrorism, health, natural disasters, and finances, as well as fears of public speaking, spiders, heights, ghosts and many other personal anxieties. Chapman administrators, senior staff, trustees and As a broadcast journalism student and documentary filmmaker, Tess Martinelli 24 knows her way around an on-camera interview. What do Americans fear? | Chapman Newsroom "We see a degree of paranoia in the responses. and Terms of Use. Director of Public Relations, Corrupt government, cyber attacks and corporate snooping top list in annual Survey of American Fears, Financial Center, Pre-Award "Those with Islamophobic views are more likely to be rural, male, white, older, and lacking a college education. The war between Russia and Ukraine and the media attention this conflict has garnered explains this fear. American Beliefs in Conspiracy. In addition to Bader, Day and Gordon, student involvement was key in helping throughout the process. What do Americans fear? Annual Survey of American Fears released The survey was administered by GFK (Knowledge Networks) a consumer research company with expertise in probability samples. Despite this being the first time the question was included it landed within the top three fears, with 59.6% of Americans being afraid of Russia using nuclear weapons. The survey also shed light on certain characteristics of people who believe in the paranormal. Questions? When it comes to gender, the survey showed that men are more likely than women to hold anti-Muslim opinions. Vocal Tract Size, Shape Dictate Speech Sounds, Virtual Reality Games Can Be Used as a Tool in Personnel Assessment, Edible Electronics: How a Seaweed Second Skin Could Transform Health and Fitness Sensor Tech, Tuning Into Brainwave Rhythms Speeds Up Learning in Adults, Study Finds, New Ways to Understand and Confront the Fear of Losing Control, How Vaccine-Related Fears Affect the Flu Shot Experience. Sciences, Argyros School of Business & can be found Being a victim . Standards such as public speaking (34.0%), flying (12.4%), germs (14.5%), heights (30.6%), needles (12.3%), small, enclosed spaces (21.7%), sharks (29.6%), insects (23.8%) and reptiles (27.2%) returned. In examining beliefs about Muslims from different regions of the country there was a striking findingthe difference between people living in metropolitan areas and nonmetropolitan Americans. 1 0 obj "Those with Islamophobic views are more likely to be rural, male, white, older, and lacking a college education. The Chapman University 2016 Survey of American Fears included a series of items on paranormal beliefs ranging from Bigfoot and psychic powers to haunted houses and extraterrestrial visitation. 0000001326 00000 n "Survey shows what Americans fear most." Government use of drones within the U.S. 48. "It is a simple, straight-line effect the more one watches talk TV, the more fearful one tends to be." What do Americans fear? Chapman University's | EurekAlert! Half of Americans fear traveling abroad; one-fifth reported they are less likely to attend a concert, sporting or other public event; and three-fourths are more willing to accept longer lines and security screenings at airports. Founded in 1861, Chapman University is a nationally ranked private university located in Southern California. something In 2017, four of the top ten fears were related to the environment (#s 3, 4, 8 and 10). The survey was a random sample of 1,511 Americans who are English speaking and over the age of 18. The CSAF was conducted online via the SSRS Probability Panel among adults age 18 and older who participated via the web on PC, laptop, tablet or mobile phone. Chapman University recently completed its third annual Chapman University Survey of American Fears (2016). The fear of being the victim of a mass or random shooting is on the minds of 31 percent, and 35 percent report being familiar with the advice to "Run. While other types of extremist groups are a concern to large groups of Americans, only those two were identified by a majority of survey respondents. By 2017, the top fear (corrupt government officials) was up to 74.5% and five of the top ten fears were expressed by more than half of the population. 0000002376 00000 n The fact that water pollution has become such a prominent fear in 2017 may be traced to the reversal of environmental policies of the Obama Administration. Chapman University, American's Top 10 Fears in 2017. Credit: Chapman University. "Conspiracy theorists tend to be more pessimistic about the near future, fearful of government, less trusting of other people in their lives and more likely to engage in actions due to their fears, such as purchasing a gun," added Dr. Bader. Undergraduate "For a nation that touts its commitment to religious liberty, the prevalence of these beliefs should be disturbing," said Ed Day, Ph.D., chair of the department of sociology at Chapman University and one of the three researchers on this survey. Due to the increase in domestic terror attacks, such as in Orlando and San Bernardino, as well as abroad, the researchers added specific language to explore Americans' fears related to terrorism. Interestingly, Americans tend to fear more for the health and safety of loved ones than their own. According to the 2014 Chapman University Survey on American Fears, the fear of public speaking continues to top the list of the most common phobias in the country--slightly above the fear of heights in second place; and bugs and snakes in third place. The survey was administered by GFK (Knowledge Networks) a consumer research company with expertise in probability samples. At that time, one-third of the participants feared a major epidemic in this country. ", The survey also looked at the personal characteristics that are significantly associated with higher levels of paranormal belief. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141021125937.htm (accessed May 1, 2023). Democrats are fond of caricaturing Republicans as fear-stricken Fox News viewers, clinging to "gunsorreligionor antipathy to people who aren't like them," in Barack Obama's famous formulation. "Our research indicated that Americans are aware, but better communication strategies are needed to encourage the nearly 75 percent who are unprepared for catastrophe," said Dr. Ann Gordon, who led this portion of the survey. Being unemployed 28.9% 58. Democrats are slightly more likely to be afraid of ghosts. In examining beliefs about Muslims from different regions of the country there was a striking finding--the difference between people living in metropolitan areas and nonmetropolitan Americans. . Americans fears were drawn elsewhere like the coronavirus pandemic and tense political climate. Environmental Concerns in America Of those surveyed only 41.7% were afraid of becoming seriously ill themselves, while 60.2% were afraid of a loved one becoming seriously ill. Your feedback is important to us. "We found clear evidence that the United States is a strongly conspiratorial society," said Dr. Bader. Nevertheless, 74 percent have made no effort to put together such a kit. Whether it's more irrational to fear clowns or "job-stealing immigrants" is an entirely different question. The 2017 Chapman University Survey of American Fears includes a battery of items on paranormal beliefs. Extinction of plant and animal species, American Healthcare Act/Trumpcare (55.3%), Pollution of oceans, rivers and lakes (61.6%), Not having enough money for the future (39.9%), Pollution of oceans, rivers and lakes (53.1%), Not having enough money for the future (57%), Not having enough money for the future (50.2%), People I love becoming seriously ill (56.5%), The US will be involved in another World War (48.4%), Extinction of plant and animal species (54.1%), People I love becoming seriously ill (35.9%), Global warming and climate change (53.2%), The Affordable Health Care Act/Obamacare (35.5%), 12. A striking difference between 2016 and 2017-2018 has to do with the environment. Television viewing. The data shows more than 40 percent of Americans believe that places can be haunted by spirits; and more than a fourth believe that the living and the dead can communicate . Beliefs in conspiracy theories were a new element to the 2016 survey and included questions asking about levels of belief in nine different popular conspiracies and conspiracy theories, such as the JFK assassination, Barack Obama's birth certificate, alien encounters, the moon landing, the 9/11 attacks, the AIDs virus and more. But Republicans weren't significantly more fearful on any of them. %%EOF The survey asked respondents about 65 fears across a broad range of categories including fears about the government, crime, the environment, the future, technology, health, natural disasters, as well as fears of public speaking, spiders, heights, ghosts and many other personal anxieties. In 2016, the highest level of fear reported by our respondents was for corrupt government officials at 60.6%. Desk: 714-289-3181 Mobile: 714-497-9683. This could be linked to the prominent news coverage of lead poisoning in the drinking water of Flint, Michigan, during the past year. What do Americans fear most? Chapman Universi | EurekAlert! Chapman University. Those top three fears are connected in a kind of hand-wringing trifecta, said Christopher Bader, Ph.D., who led the team effort. "However, of all the items we asked about, Americans are most skeptical of Big Foot with only 13 percent expressing belief in its existence.". <> "What initially lead us into this line of research was our desire to capture this information on a year-over-year basis so we can draw comparisons with what items are increasing in fear as well as decreasing," said Dr. Christopher Bader, who led the team effort. By 2018 all the top ten fears were held by more than half of Americans. Given the United States history with economic crises like the Great Depression and the Great Recession it is no surprise that fear of economic well-being for both the individual and the nation is of concern to Americans. Even more, 35 percent, disagree or strongly disagree with the statement, "We should preserve our freedoms even if it increases the risk of terrorism." The campus has produced a Rhodes Scholar, been named a top producer of Fulbright Scholars, and hosts a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nations oldest and most prestigious honor society. "People often fear what they cannot control," continued Dr. Bader, "and we find continued evidence of that in our top fears." endstream endobj 2095 0 obj <>/Size 2073/Type/XRef>>stream 0000002912 00000 n This years top 10 fears hint that Americans are fixated on government, the threat of harm to loved ones, and environmental and economic concerns. paranormal, said Bader. "Overall, the survey showed two-thirds of Americans believe in something paranormal, which is an increase from last year where just half of Americans reported that," said Dr. Bader. Beliefs in conspiracy theories were a new element to the 2016 survey and included questions asking about levels of belief in nine different popular conspiracies and conspiracy theories, such as the JFK assassination, Barack Obama's birth certificate, alien encounters, the moon landing, the 9/11 attacks, the AIDs virus and more. The top 10 things Americans fear the most are: More than half of the respondents fear they will experience a natural or manmade disaster. 0000001108 00000 n "Survey shows what Americans fear most." 0000006622 00000 n Fight," which is the recommended preparedness slogan for a mass or random shooting. The Top 10 Fears in America 2022 Did your fears make the list? Amazing Leaders Who Once Had Stage Fright - Visme Science X Daily and the Weekly Email Newsletter are free features that allow you to receive your favorite sci-tech news updates in your email inbox, Phys.org 2003 - 2023 powered by Science X Network. Democrats are nearly twice as likely as Republicans to have a fear of clowns. "Conspiracy theorists tend to be more pessimistic about the near future, fearful of government, less trusting of other people in their lives and more likely to engage in actions due to their fears, such as purchasing a gun," added Dr. Bader. Who will protect women from the courts and legislatures? Whites no longer being the majority in the U.S. 92. xref Chapman University Survey of American Fears the Science X network is one of the largest online communities for science-minded people. October 14, 2022 If it's spooky season, it's time for The Chapman University Survey of American Fears (CSAF) to reveal the top 10 fears in America! Director of Public Relations, Political Corruption, Illness, and the Threat of Nuclear Attack from Russia Top Chapman Universitys Annual Survey of American Fears. Perhaps due partly to their belief in the unbelievable, Democrats tend to be more phobia-stricken than Republicans, according to the survey. Chapman University recently completed its third annual Chapman University Survey of American Fears (2016). Chapman University Honors Holocaust Survivors in Annual Art and Writing Speedy Robo-Gripper Reflexively Organizes What Made Us Human? Public speaking 29% 55. The survey was a random sample of 1,511 Americans who are English speaking and over the age of 18. The Chapman University 2015 Survey of American Fears included items on paranormal beliefs ranging from Bigfoot and psychic powers to haunted houses and the power of dreams. Chapman Universitys Argyros School of Business and Economics Climbs to No. The 2016 Chapman University Survey of American Fears explored how Americans as a whole view this small subgroup. Conducted annually, it follows trends over time and identifies new fears as they emerge. The 2017 survey shows that the top 10 things Americans fear the most are: 1) Corruption of government officials (same top fear as 2015 and 2016) 2) American Healthcare Act/Trumpcare (new fear) 3) Pollution of oceans, rivers and lakes (new in top 10) 4) Pollution of drinking water (new in top 10) 5) Not having enough money in the future 6) High medical bills 7) The U.S. will be involved in another world war (new fear) 8) Global warming and climate change 9) North Korea using weapons (new fear) 10) Air pollution, "The 2017 survey data shows us that while some of the top fears have remained, there has also been a pronounced shift to environmental fears," said Christopher Bader, Ph.D., professor of sociology at Chapman University, who led the team effort. "These attacks have added urgency to the need for the public to understand the precursors of terrorism," said Ann Gordon, Ph.D., associate dean of the Wilkinson College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Chapman University and one of the three researchers on the study. The Chapman University 2016 Survey of American Fears included a series of items on paranormal beliefs ranging from Bigfoot and psychic powers to haunted houses and extraterrestrial visitation. And as in the previous four years, the fear that our government is corrupt far exceeds all others we asked about. However, we do not guarantee individual replies due to the high volume of messages. For the fourth year in a row the top fear of Americans is corrupt government officials. Americans Fear Terrorism - and the Public's Role in Preventing Terrorism, Americans Fear Terrorism - and the Public's Role in Preventing Terrorism. Underscoring Chapman's growth and emergence in the sciences, the research team leading this effort pared the information down into four basic categories: personal fears, crime, natural disasters and fear factors. Humanities, and Social Sciences, 4. Since the fear survey was first conducted, at least one fear concerning economic matters has landed in the top 10. By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Privacy Policy Chapman's growth in global climate change research and extreme events led another portion of The Chapman Survey on American Fears into the area of natural disasters and people's preparedness. More than half of all Americans (63 percent) believe that "natural disasters in my area are capable of doing serious harm to me or my property." I would like to subscribe to Science X Newsletter. 0000000793 00000 n 3 0 obj Despite evidence to the contrary, Americans do not feel like the United States is becoming a safer place. 4 0 obj 0000003196 00000 n More than 1,000 people across the nation were surveyed April 5-15, 2022. Nevertheless, 74 percent have made no effort to put together such a kit. Phys.org is a part of Science X network. Survey shows what Americans fear most. Criminologists often get angry responses when we try to tell people the crime rate has gone down.". "Overall, the survey showed two-thirds of Americans believe in something paranormal, which is an increase from last year where just half of Americans reported that," said Dr. Bader. PDF What do Americans fear? Annual Survey of American Fears released DeSantis critical of China, hazy on Ukraine as he charts foreign policy path, Chapman University Survey on American Fears, partisan differences in Americans' belief in the occult. and Terms of Use. Sciences, Dodge Put another way, by year, the top ten fears have ranged from: The following is a complete, list of all fears addressed by the Chapman University Survey of American Fears Wave 5 (2018), ranked by the percent of Americans who reported being afraid or very afraid. Chapman University. Content on this website is for information only. 0000009020 00000 n Urban residents are much less likely to distrust Muslims or support institutionalized discrimination. The attention placed on environmental issues abruptly dropped off in the 2020/21 survey, with only pollution of oceans, rivers, and lakes remaining in the top 10. Americans fear many natural disasters and 68 percent believe. Annual Survey of American Fears released, New poll reveals what Americans fear most, The internet may be secular, but religious Americans aren't worried, survey shows, Social networks extend gains as news sources in US: survey, Most Americans want the government to combat climate change, some willing to pay a high amount, A century of newspaper ads shed light on Indigenous slavery in colonial America, Mobility-related data show the pandemic has limited the breadth of places people visit in cities, Statistical physics reveals how languages evolve, Team develops scale to rebalance burden of initiating trust in science, Instead of refuting misinformation head-on, try 'bypassing' it, New study explores human cultural learning and evolution, Speaking a tonal language could boost your melodic ability, but at the cost of rhythm, New 50-year study offers insight into effects of climate on bird reproduction, Scientists use power of AI to supercharge planetary studies, Upcycling method turns textile trash to functional coatings, Fur seals on a remote island chain are exposed to huge amounts of toxic heavy metals, yet somehow, they're healthy, Comparison of specimens and field observations reveals biases in biodiversity data, Silver nanoparticles spark key advance in thermoelectricity for power generation, Exploring the evolution of cannabinoid biosynthesis in a non-cannabis plant, Prevalence of transposable elements may provide clues to worldwide mammal biodiversity, Researchers uncover new mechanisms regulating plant response to temperature, Carbon sink models need nitrogen, says study, Finding the best liquids to maximize antioxidant content in spinach smoothies, A majority of Americans [53.1 percent] fear pollution of "oceans, rivers and streams.". The top 10 fears found in the 2022 survey suggest that Americans fears center on five main topics: corrupt government officials (number 1), harm to a loved one (numbers 2 & 4), war (numbers 3, 5, & 10), environmental concerns (numbers 6 & 9), and economic concerns numbers 7 & 8). 0000001932 00000 n xA 04(F~\GczC. How Public Speaking Boosts Your Self-Confidence The survey took, on average, 20 to 25 minutes to complete. PDF By Shreya Sheth, Henley Research Fellow, Chapman University The research team leading this effort pared. The way Americans see it, the bogeyman is not hiding under the bed. Provided by Economic Concerns in America The fears are ranked by the percent of Americans who reported being afraid or very afraid. People often fear what they cannot control, and technology and the future of our economy are two aspects of life that Americans find very unpredictable at the moment. The survey then asked about their familiarity with safety and preparedness advice/slogans propagated by ready.gov and emergency.cdc.gov. When it comes to gender, the survey showed that men are more likely than women to hold anti-Muslim opinions. It would be interesting to find what percentage of Americans are very afraid of any item on this list, of two or more items etc. Our survey indicates Americans are more likely to report a shoplifter than a terrorist.". Nearly half of all Americans [48 percent] fear North Korea using nuclear weapons and 41 percent fear a nuclear attack generally. Racial and political fears include racial/hate crimes (29.9%), violent overthrow of the U.S. government (35.6%), Left-wing extremists (30.8%), Right-wing extremists (35.8%) White supremacists (38.2%), The Proud Boys (34.0%), and Antifa (27.1%). The same relationship is true when looking at the fear regarding illness. The award is conferred annually to the outstanding graduating masters and doctoral students with distinguished records of academic accomplishment, scholarship, and/or service. But, assuming also that fear is a response to threats, and rises and falls in tandem with those threats, are times of turmoil (economic and social, as evidenced by the 18% here who fear loss of a white majority in America) likely to produce an elevated level of fear of many things, big and small? 0000011715 00000 n Brain Circuits for Locomotion Came Before Ingestible 'Electroceutical' Capsule Stimulates Hunger-Regulating Hormone, Cannabinoids Give Worms the Munchies, Too, Chitin from Consuming Insects Can Help Both Gut Microbiota and Global Health, Brain Circuits for Locomotion Evolved Long Before Appendages and Skeletons, Nanowire Networks Learn and Remember Like a Human Brain. Phys.org is a leading web-based science, research and technology news service which covers a full range of topics. The comprehensive survey includes extensive background information about respondents, allowing the social scientists to study how fears vary among different groups. This site uses cookies to assist with navigation, analyse your use of our services, collect data for ads personalisation and provide content from third parties. He or she is likely to be Catholic - or a Christian denomination - but attend religious services infrequently. Although this fear has been prominent among Americans since first asked in 2014, the pandemic has most likely drawn greater attention to health-related issues and elevated fears among the public. The survey took, on average, 20 to 25 minutes to complete. Materials provided by Chapman University. "For the See Something, Say Something Campaign to be successful, Americans need to know what they should reportand what not to report," said Dr. Gordon.