Acting out of Fear

The second wave of the Chapman University Survey of American Fears (2015) asked respondents if they had engaged in particular actions “because of your fears.”  These questions allow us to learn more about some of the responses people have to fear and what drives those responses.

For example, nearly a fourth of Americans report having voted for particular candidate due to their fears.  More than 10 percent of Americans have purchased a gun due to fear.

Drivers of Fear-Based Actions
 


Fear-based actions are most strongly associated with different fear domains.

Voting


The strongest effects of fear are seen with voting.  Nearly a third of those who have an above average fear of government reported having voted for a particular candidate due to their fears.  Man-made disasters and fears about the technology were also associated with fear-based voting amongst nearly a third of respondents.

Purchasing a Gun


Fear of the government has the strongest relationship with buying a gun because of fear.  Of those respondents who have an above average fear of the government, over 15 percent have purchased a gun due to fear.  People who have purchased a gun because of fear also have high levels of fear of technology and crime.

Private School


For example, of those who are above average in terms of the fear of government, about 8 percent have sent their kids to a private school because of their fears.  Fear of technology, man-made disasters, and personal anxieties are also associated with choosing to send a child to private school because of fear.

Purchasing a Home Alarm


Not surprisingly, have an above average fear of crime is the most strongly associated with purchasing a home alarm system.  Nearly one-fourth (23.8 percent) of those who have an above average fear of crime report having purchased an alarm due to fear.

However, many other fear domains are also associated with purchasing a home alarm, ranging from fears of man-made disasters to fears about one’s personal future.