Dear Editor:
When news sources, especially TV news, report on terrorist attacks, they unnecessarily raise the anxiety and fear level in the general public by how they phrase their statements. The news media often refers to terrorist attacks “as possible” or “may happen.” In reality, these statements tell you nothing that is new or useful and unnecessarily increase anxiety and fear.
This is because nearly anything in life is possible or may happen. As far out as our imaginations can stretch, we can conceive of things occurring. As an example, it is possible that meteors will hit my office as I sit and dictate this letter. However, it is not the possibility of an event that is of importance, it is the probability or likelihood of an event. Because something is possible or may happen, such as meteors hitting my office, does not necessarily mean it is probable or likely to happen. The same as with terrorist attacks, because an attack is possible does not necessarily mean that it is likely. By phrasing it as a possibility rather than as a probability creates undue fear and anxiety. It is much more realistic to conceive of events in terms of the probability of that event occurring. For an event to have a probability of occurrence there must be data or evidence that supports the conclusions that it is probable or likely to occur. This evidence should not just be belief or faith; it should be based in reality and observed by others. Beliefs such as the possibility of a terrorist attack, or a meteor hitting my office, or other beliefs about life that do not have hard data to support them, not only cause undue anxiety and fear and dread but also are not a guide for adaptive ways of living.
The media news should present news about terrorist attacks in terms of the probability of the occurrence of the attack along with the data which supports that probability. For us all, it is important to base our life on decisions regarding the probability of something occurring rather than the possibility. For any beliefs that you have, look for evidence or data that can support that belief. Getting information about the belief can help lower your anxiety, as anxiety is reduced by information.Ronald J. Coughlin, Ed.D.
New Jersey Violence Prevention Institute, Inc.