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New publication: Andreas Schmitz, Judith Eckert: "Towards a general sociology of fear: a programmatic answer to crucial deficits of the contemporary fear discourse"


Categories: GESIS-News

Schmitz, Andreas, and Judith Eckert. "Towards a general sociology of fear: a programmatic answer to crucial deficits of the contemporary fear discourse", Emotions and Society (published online ahead of print 2022), accessed Nov 15, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1332/263169021X16655616062213

Be it fear of environmental catastrophes, military conflicts, radical political movements, fear of an uncertain future, fear about the most personal and intimate matters, or an increase in anxiety disorders – fear in its various facets plays a major role in contemporary media reports, bestsellers and our everyday lives. Science has a particular role here, as it represents the field of society that is tasked with understanding and explaining – and according to some, even countering – fears.

However, while important contributions in the field of fear research have been recently made, the scientific discourse as a whole is characterised by a series of analytical deficits. In the introductory reflections on this special issue, the authors will address eight of the most critical shortcomings that restrict and constrict current social science. In doing so, they will also sketch necessary analytical reorientations and, overall, make a case for a general sociology of fear.