Prejudice and stigma can discourage the communities most affected by infectious diseases from seeking care. Inclusive public health messaging can prevent misinformation and guide the most vulnerable.
Phobias are when fears become excessive and interrupt daily life. A new review shows one longer session of exposure is just as effective and more time-efficient than multiple shorter sessions.
Many surfers have seen sharks while surfing in the ocean. Yet, unlike the general public, 60% are not afraid of sharks. It’s a finding that offers an insight into attitudes to shark conservation.
Clowns in American circuses were once considered a form of adult entertainment.
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In 2013 stories emerged of gangs stealing plasma TV screens to use to make street drugs. It’s a myth, but it tells us something about South Africa’s social anxieties.
Social media platforms can be put to great use when it comes to promoting sexual health. But invoking threats and fear limits information reach and impact.
Personal action is important. Collective action that encourages systemic change can go even farther.
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The majority of front page reports were negative in tone, seeing very little possibility for individual agency and self-efficacy. This can amplify public anxiety and fear.
The strong disapproval of the South African government’s handling of the pandemic is a warning that crafting persuasive pro-vaccine messages is not enough.
Images of death have been used as a scare tactic in public health campaigns for years.
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Despite moments of hope, worries about the present and fears that the future may be even worse have been rising for decades. What can geopolitics teach us about the global impact of fear?