In conflict situations, like that between indigenous and non-indigenous fishers in Nova Scotia, we can often recognize behaviour like circling of the wagons, a propensity to ‘other’ those different from ourselves, and a desire for erecting walls and borders.
This may be evidence of a fear response that stems from anxiety. Our response to fear is an evolutionary mechanism aimed at self-preservation in immediate and dire circumstances. Unfortunately, our anxiety can be manipulated by others to generate an unnatural fear. In a lecture, delivered by Daniel P. Horan, OFM, at Oblate School of Theology's Summer Institute, entitled "Natural and Unnatural Fear; Rational and Irrational Hope," Fr. Horan explores the physiological basis of natural fear and how unnatural fear can be conditioned. Noting that human beings must make decisions in a world for which evolution has given them only a very basic preparation, Fr. Horan warned, “This leaves us especially vulnerable to co-option, something that ancient philosophers recognized in the dangerous shadow side of persuasive rhetoric,” he said.
Political, social and religious leaders can instill fear by harvesting the need to manipulate anxiety or concern that women and men might already have.” For example, they may feel anxious or concerned about legitimate things like their health or future, whether the harvest is going to be enough or whether their retirement savings will get them by, he said, adding, “If political, social or religious leaders can harvest such anxieties for self-serving reasons and turn them into an impending threat, this is a problem.”1Sociologist Barry Glassner spent five years poring over more than 10,000 newspaper, radio and television accounts of social issues, and he discovered a distinct pattern.
“Scratch the surface of any pseudo-fear and you’ll find a wide array of groups that stand to benefit from promoting the scares, including businesses, advocacy organizations, religious sects and political parties,” Glassner said. No amount of debunking can wipe out a fear as long as someone can still find a way of profiting from it, Glassner found.2The YouTube video of the lecture of Fr. Daniel P. Horan, OFM to the Oblate School of Theology on "Natural and Unnatural Fear; Rational and Irrational Hope."3 can be viewed about 40 minutes into the talk for some more information on how our anxiety is manipulated into fear by those who desire to gain from the disruption.
Social discord and irrational violence may be rooted in fear. We need to explore the anxieties that may have been manipulated into fear. Action to reduce the anxiety will make it more difficult to fan the embers of legitimate anxiety into fear and the resultant irrational abusive treatment of people and property.
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