Future Tense The vicious cycle of fear and anger — and how it traps society
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Jan 16, 2025 In this engaging discussion, Erika Ferszt, branding expert and founder of Scintillate Brand Consulting, teams up with Harvard researcher Jennifer Lerner, who specializes in emotions and decision-making. They delve into how fear underpins authoritarian control and influences democratic societies, exacerbating populism. The guests also explore the commercial benefits of anger and outrage marketing, revealing how society profits from emotional manipulation. The conversation highlights the vicious cycle where fear and anger blind critical thinking, complicating our decision-making.
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Fear as Motivator
- Fear is a motivator, used in campaigns from public health to climate change.
- It's also the flip side of hope: we fear threats to our values and future.
Fear Over Aspiration
- When fear overshadows aspirations in politics, it becomes a challenge.
- Post-WWII, democracies became defensive, prioritizing fear over the values it was meant to protect.
Fear and Apathy
- Excessive fear can lead to apathy, especially with issues like climate change.
- The marketization of fear creates a vicious cycle by selling solutions to environmental anxieties.
