Fear and stress might be harmful in some cases, but what does that mean for all of the fun that people have being scared? Haunted houses, hide and seek, horror games, and even peek-a-boo ultimately delight people from the cradle to the grave. Mathias Clasen reports that these behaviours fall into the category of “recreational fear,” a pattern of behaviour common among many animals. Essentially, it serves the purpose of preparing the brain to manage real fear and danger in the safety of a low-risk environment. Read full article here
Research
Improving media literacy could boost trust towards the news, IMPRESS report suggests
The UK media is regulated by the likes of IPSO and Ofcom. The report by press regulator IMPRESS highlights the link between low levels of media literacy and trust in the news. The study found that three quarters of those who did not know if journalists were regulated did not trust the news. It suggests that improving media literacy is one way to stem the erosion of trust, and shows that audiences have an appetite for information on news processes. Stakeholders need to collaborate in order to rebuild trust in the news, and independent media is well placed to do this. Read full article here
Merv
February 1, 2023
