Why, exactly, is fear used so much in society?

Question

For instance, many religions threaten that people will go to hell if they don't follow their religion's beliefs, the media( the news in particular) provokes fear in people by always informing us with bad news, and even the education system says that we'll have a unsuccessful life if we don't go on to college.

So, why is the displaying of fear used so much in society?

Answer 1

To keep people in line from straying from the "status quo."

Answer 2

I think fear is already present in most peoples hearts and that our culture projects and manipulates those fears into the public consciousness.

I don't think fear is inherently bad. It exists because it has served an evolutionary function in the success of our species. It's helped us to utilize our other faculties (reason, creativity) to overcome the things that used to cause us fear, like predators and the power of nature. It serves a useful function today in making people aware of the environmental impact of their lifestyles and the possible negative repercussions. Fear can be useful in keeping people honest, for fear of the consequences of acting dishonestly.

Fear can also be manipulated. That's where our other mental abilities come into play. Where critical thinking, skepticism, and reason become a powerful countermeasure to any attempts at using fear to control us.

Answer 3

There are a lot of things to fear in life - I'm not sure much of it is generated by people - I think most of it is just out there to be seen and feared.

Answer 4

I think our most basic need is to be accepted. We seek praise because it indicates acceptance and we fear misbehaving because it might lead to a loss of reputation and loss of acceptance.

Just to set the record straight, Christianity is based upon the love of God. Look and see how many of Jesus' apostles came to follow Him because of a fear of hell. There were none.

Answer 5

There is Fear in everything we do, that happens to us(all of us, Mankind) and what could happen to everyone, and everything else.
Life is a Puzzle. There is a end to that Puzzle, but that end come's in many guises and where the end is No-One KNOW'S.
THAT IS SOCIETY'S GREATEST FEAR, where is that end

Answer 6

It’s the most efficient way to keep people under control.
Fear inhibits thought and consequent action thus making control mechanisms more powerful and permanent in their application.

Answer 7

we are always afraid of every aspect of life
from past experience, weve all experienced a downfall
that makes us fear so much

Answer 8

fear works it has for thousands of years it works for relingion because no one has gone there and back so every one here has a small part of there mind thinks what if they are right

Answer 9

this society is intelligent and more science/technology based. religious people are losing power and since they just can going around killing people who dont believe anymore, they move to fear.

Answer 10

I think reading MICHEL FOUCAULT might shed some light on your question.