Recent scenarios involving weapons of mass destruction, SARS, and avian flu have highlighted the role of scaremongering in contemporary society. Scaremongering among media outlets and other venues is on the rise, and the resulting fears can unnecessarily dictate daily habits and negatively alter the way individuals lead their lives. Covering the recent scare stories involving child abduction, cyber terrorism, climate change, and other topics, this insightful study reveals how scaremongering has actually become a respectable enterprise, with businesses selling their goods by engaging with public anxieties. It also reveals how to treat scare stories with skepticism, expose them for what they are, and bring scare tactics firmly down to earth.
