Top American fears not the stuff of haunted houses
What Americans most fear isn't the kind of stuff you'd find inside the typical haunted house, according to a new survey.
Number 1 on the list of what Americans say they are afraid of or very afraid of: Corrupt government officials.
Next were terrorist attacks and not having enough money for the future, according to a national survey by Chapman University in California. More than 1,500 people were queried on 79 different fears
And what about the kind of stuff you find portrayed inside a haunted house? Reptiles ranked 13th, between biological warfare and government tracking of personal data.
“We are selling a fantasy here,” he said. “That’s reality.”
Find out more about fear and human nature from 20 years of running a top haunted attraction, in my latest Unofficial Business column on MyAJC.com.
About the Author
Matt Kempner is an award-winning journalist who seeks out intriguing twists about people and subjects beyond what the AJC might typically cover. A former columnist and editor, his past assignments have included business investigations, energy, the economy, entrepreneurs, big business, consumer spending, politics, government and the environment.
