fear/anxiety (text by schnittker)

evolutionary purpose of anxiety

• helped us prepare for threats

• alerted us

• allowed a qucik reponse when faced with threats (disease, predators, environmental hazards)

anxiety as a tool in modern settings

• linked with intelligence

• gives us the ability to plan ahead and anticipate

• a tool for problem-solving: keeps difficult problems at the front of the mind, opening up to a solution (possibly)

• motivates people to create less anxiety-provoking environments

• reflects the responsibilites of freedom (Satre)

• a way to recognize our existential situation

Age of Anxiety?

• Schittker is reluctant to call this an age of anxiety

• but: views the 21th century as an especially anxious time, modern environment gives us reasons to worry

• explanation for an age of anxiety/increase in anxiety: social relationships, significance of social status and standing, deterioation of traditional systems of meaning (religion)

social relationships

• more uncertainty about relationships

• increasing mistrust of other people

marriage

• higher divorce rates = family instability

secularisation

• religious teachings speak specifically to fear and uncertainty

• a strong social component

status anxiety

• increased inequality

• decreased employment stability

• fear of losing high rank

weaponisation of fear

• fear is in ourselves (micro)= intimate, personal

• fear is also in the media/public (macro) = can motivate group behaviour, reflected in the rise of right wing politicans → worries about rapid social and demographic change, creating fear of “The Other”