Panic Buttons

It’s mankind’s instinctive need to feel safe. People will do everything possible within their power to maintain this feeling. This strong desire for protection is often combined with the fear of loss or of getting hurt physically or psychologically. This existential fear easily causes panic, leading to the creation of a scenario of risk. The essence of risk is not that it is happening, but that it might be happening. [1] Risk operates outside the capacity of human perception, invisible and often unconscious.

In many instances the government, the media and insurance companies play with this natural fear, spreading panic strategically in order to pursue their own interests. It is used as a tool to raise awareness of issues, especially those of a political and environmental nature. As the use of fear to influence people produces a strong effect, it’s important to prove its use is responsible to prevent misuse.

During the second world war, for example, the fear of losing one’s livelihood was used for manipulation and propaganda. These days it is the fear of terrorism and the potentional for a nuclear war that play a big role. Another example is the American Government’s use of fear in its tv advertisments to encourage people to join the army and appeal to their sense of coherence and patriotism.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAp-VdBkIDE&eurl=http://www.freeunibz.net/blog/?p=1894

Panic buttons can be found in many different fields. The use of the right stimuli can motivate people to change their behaviour and reflect thoughtfully about themselves, their environment and their future.


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[1] Barbara Adam and Joost van Loon, „the risk society and beyond“, 2000