Exploring high-tension religious groups, white power movements, paranormal subcultures, LGBTQ groups, drifters, recreational drug and alcohol users, and more, the authors identify how and when people combat, defy, hide from, or run from being stigmatized as deviant.
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.
The book explores the overwhelming pressures individuals face in modern society, emphasizing the isolation that can result from the fear of vulnerability. It highlights how this self-imposed silence can lead to emotional imprisonment, where sharing one's struggles is mistakenly perceived as a weakness. By addressing these themes, the narrative encourages readers to break free from the stigma of sharing their feelings, promoting connection and understanding as essential for overcoming personal challenges.
Archaic Greeks honored gods by offering dedications, often inscribed with epigrams. This book reconstructs ancient encounters with such dedications, arguing that, while the rite of offering was represented verbally and visually, reading and viewing produced effects of religious ritual. Epigram and dedication memorialized the dedicator's rite by generating its reperformance.
Stereotypes are prevalent throughout our society. Using content analytical and experimental data in conjunction with case studies, When Stereotypes Collide explores the influence of gender and ethnic/racial minority stereotypes in the production of campaign messages created during congressional elections. Filling a void in political campaign research, this book draws specific attention to the uses and consequences of political advertisement videostyle strategies on the electoral fortunes of women and minority candidates.