Fear and anxiety are driving much of American behavior. Fear has stretched credulity, pushing reasons to act beyond evidence and into the realm of imagination.This is Fear Nation, where motivations no longer require actual evidence, only a feeling. Fear Nation has developed Fear Culture, a set of pop products intended to soothe anxieties, divert attention from and help individuals to avoid confronting the real issues.
But American youth are showing a different response - one that is accepting of the uncertainty of World War III yet assertive in confronting its fears. Whether the rest of society adopts this model or moves further into fear is not entirely clear. However, recent observations suggest the fear obsession may be peaking. Whichever way society moves, the effects will be felt in the economy and in consumer markets for some time.