Civilized Character

In The Civilising Process Vol 2: State Formation and Civilization, Norbert Elias argued that fear is one of the most important mechanisms through which ‘the structures of society are transmitted to individual psychological functions.’ He argued that the ‘civilized character’ is partly constructed by people’s internalisation of fears…

Our responses to specific circumstances are mediated through cultural norms, which inform people of what is expected of them when they are confronted with a threat; how they should respond, how they should feel.

—Frank Furedi
The only thing we have to fear is the ‘culture of fear’ itself

~ by tbarj on April 6, 2007.