Question

Kerr says that people have traditionally scared themselves and each other for several reasons, including controlling behavior. What type of behavior, do you suppose, leaders of a community would want to control and how might they use fear to do so? Give a concrete example.

Answer 1

Leaders in communities have traditionally used fear to control behaviors that could threaten social order or their authority. Examples include the Church in the Middle Ages using the concept of Hell to inspire moral behavior and totalitarian regimes using external threats to justify strict controls.

Step-by-step explanation:

Leaders of a community often wish to control behaviors that could undermine the social order or challenge their authority. Using fear to achieve this involves presenting ominous scenarios that could occur if certain behaviors continue. For instance, during the Medieval period, the church exerted control over social behavior by endorsing the belief in supernatural consequences like Hell for sinful actions. This traditionally inspired fear in the populace, compelling them to follow the church's moral directives. Another example can be found in totalitarian regimes, where leaders promote fear of external threats or internal sabotage to justify strict controls over the population's behavior. The propaganda during WWII, especially in Nazi Germany, is a stark illustration of how fear was used to encourage conformity and suppress dissent. Leaders of such regimes often manipulate their populace into believing that drastic measures are necessary for the survival of their nation or community.