Psychology Today | 28.02.2026 04:23
The most significant threats which modern society faces are not tangible or immediate risks; rather, they are future anticipated catastrophic events. These modern risks are global in nature, whereas previously risks were limited to local, controlled environments. Beck asserts that such a transformation in our sense of risk redirects social energy toward the anticipation and prevention of future catastrophes, creating a continual state of heightened awareness (Beck, 2006). Rebughini (2021) illustrates Beck's argument, noting that anxiety has become part of the normal experience for many people in today's Western culture and that this phenomenon is exacerbated by current crises, such as COVID-19. Consequently, people find themselves in a collective state of unease.
