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What Americans Fear Most in 2025

October 21, 2025 by Robert Hitchcock | News

Americans continue to fear corruption in government more than anything else, according to the 11th annual Chapman University Survey of American Fears, released today by Chapman University. The nationally representative survey conducted by Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences provides an in-depth look at the most common fears across the country and explores

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Corruption, Nuclear Threats, and Economic Instability Dominate National Fears in 2024

October 24, 2024 by Carly Murphy | News

Government corruption, the possibility of global war, and economic uncertainty are among the fears gripping the American psyche in 2024, according to new findings from Chapman University. The fear of corrupt government officials tops the list this year as it has for the last nine years. Americans are also very fearful about loved ones becoming

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The Top 10 Fears in America 2023

October 20, 2023 by By Sam Andrus (’23)  | News

This fall marks the ninth wave of the Chapman University Survey of American Fears (CSAF). Conducted annually, the CSAF reveals the top 10 fears in America, following trends over time and identifying new fears as they emerge. The CSAF surveys a nationally representative sample to understand the fears that keep Americans up at night. Wave

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The Top 10 Fears in America 2022

October 14, 2022 by Christian Grevin | News

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! The CSAF is an ongoing project, now in its ninth year. Conducted annually, it follows trends over time and identifies new fears as they emerge. The survey is a nationally representative sample

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Homeland Insecurity: Terrorism, Mass Shootings and the Public

February 10, 2022 by | News

Between 2009 and 2020, 1,363 people in the United States were killed and 947 more were wounded in 240 mass shootings, an average of 20 shootings each year. The number of terrorist attacks on the United States between 1995 and 2019 totals 856, killing 3,492 Americans. Despite these trends, most Americans just don’t know what

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Wilkinson College's Ghost Hunt

October 29, 2021 by Danielle Espiritu | News

Just in time for Halloween,  Sociology Professor and Department Chair Chris Bader, who specializes in studies of fear and the paranormal, led fifteen Wilkinson College students, faculty, and staff  on a tour of the Dr. Willella Howe-Waffle House, a “haunted” residence of one of Orange County’s first female physicians, who lived and worked there from

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Government Corruption, Fear for Loved Ones, Civil Unrest Top Fears in America

October 14, 2021 by Fear Team | News

7th Annual Chapman University Survey of American Fears By the Fear Team The annual Chapman University Survey of American Fears provides an in-depth examination into the concerns of average Americans, tracking changes and trends over the years. The survey asks about more than 100 topics ranging from government, health, and environmental matters, to crime, COVID-19,

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Fear Factor: What Spooks Americans?

September 28, 2021 by | News

Just in time for Halloween, Wilkinson College Undergraduate Research Fellows in the Henley Lab and Babbie Center have completed research papers based on their participation in the Study of American Fears. Among those, Americans’ Top Fears, Fear of COVID-19 in America, and Fear of Civil Unrest. Students are involved in every aspect of the survey,

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Chapman Research Mentor Helps Undergrads Overdeliver

October 21, 2020 by Ann Gordon | News

I’m passionate about undergraduate research because I’ve seen firsthand how it transforms lives. Just as important, I’ve seen how young scholars greatly contribute to successful research projects. The influence of students was central when my co-PI partners Christopher Bader, Edward Day and I first developed the Chapman University Survey of American Fears, an in-depth examination

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