As Halloween approaches, Chapman University in California has released its annual survey report on “What Americans Fear Most.” Contrary to popular belief, most Americans are not afraid of ghosts; their biggest fear is corrupt government officials.
Chapman University’s survey, conducted by the Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, delves into Americans’ most common fears and how these fears impact their daily lives, decision-making, and emotional well-being. The nationwide survey examined over 65 potential fear-inducing scenarios, including government, conspiracy theories, crime, environment, personal finances, artificial intelligence (AI), health and diseases, man-made disasters, terrorism, war, and supernatural phenomena.
The survey revealed that the top fear among Americans is “corrupt government officials,” with 69.1% of respondents being afraid or very afraid, mirroring the results from the previous year.
Following closely is the fear of “a loved one falling ill,” with 58.9% of respondents expressing fear or great fear, maintaining its second-place ranking from the previous year. The third spot is taken by “economic/financial collapse,” with 58.2% expressing fear or great fear, a significant jump from its fifteenth place ranking last year.
Here is the list of the top ten fear-inducing scenarios with the percentage of people afraid or very afraid, along with their ranking in 2024:
1. Corrupt government officials – 69.1% (Rank: 1)
2. A loved one falling ill – 58.9% (Rank: 2)
3. Economic/financial collapse – 58.2% (Rank: 15)
4. Cyber terrorism – 55.9% (Rank: 3)
5. A loved one dying – 55.3% (Rank: 4)
6. U.S. involvement in another world war – 55.3% (Rank: 7)
7. Drinking water contamination – 54.5% (Rank: 11)
8. Russia using nuclear weapons – 53.7% (Rank: 5)
9. Ocean, river, and lake pollution – 53.5% (Rank: 13)
10. Government tracking personal data – 52.7% (Rank: 20)
Christopher Bader, the Director and Professor of Sociology at Chapman University, who led the research, emphasized the importance of understanding our fears not to induce anxiety but to contextualize them. He noted that media and social media tend to focus on rare and sensational events, which, although infrequent in daily life, can create a sense of threat due to constant coverage.
While the concerns of Americans reflect legitimate fears, researchers point out that perception often outweighs reality. For instance, despite long-term declines in crime rates, public fear of crime has increased. Similarly, concerns about economic collapse and global conflicts are often influenced more by political and media discourse than by actual statistics.
Bader added, “By taking a step back to understand the root causes of our fears, whether as individuals or as a society, we can make better decisions. While fear can motivate us, it should not mislead us.”