What are the most common fears and phobias that people have today? Most of us can relate to having a healthy fear of sharks or getting sweaty palms at the idea of being stuck in a tiny space. It’s also pretty socially acceptable for someone to opt out of bungee jumping, or for a fellow aeroplane passenger to need a few deep breaths to calm themselves before takeoff. 



Then of course there’s the fear of public speaking - which we all fear more than death, right? Maybe not… This claim seems to link back to a publication from 1977 called The Book of Lists, which in turn cites the London Times… which in turn references the 1973 Burskin Report. This claims that 41 per cent of people feared speaking before a group, whereas only 19 per cent feared death. 



But is it really true? 





CHAPTERS:
00:00 The fear of public speaking
05:29 Defining fear and phobia
10:24 Research findings: 1977 Book of Lists 
13:04 The fear of heights and deep water
15:29 Top 10 Fears in America
16:31 White Supremacists and High Medical Bills
18:02 Fear of Ghosts and Zombies
20:49 Australia’s fears: Social Phobias and Agoraphobia
22:22 Fear of Swooping Magpies
26:26 The Boring Apocalypse
28:28 What’s next on the Wholesome Show



PREVIOUS EPISODES MENTIONED:
Mary Shelley, Taphophobia and Life-Preserving Coffins



SOURCES:
Solomon, Robert C., 'Self-Reproach in Guilt, Shame, and Pride', True to Our Feelings: What Our Emotions Are Really Telling Us (2008; online edn, Oxford Academic, 3 Oct. 2011) 
The 14 Worst Human Fears in the 1977 Book of Lists: where did this data really come from?
https://www.speakschmeak.com/2008/04/public-speaking-vs-death.html
Top 10 Most Common Phobias List — Talkspace
Top 10 phobias and what they reveal about the strangeness of life | Mental health | The Guardian
America's Top Fears 2020/2021 | Chapman University
Phobias: The ten most common fears people hold - ABC News
Is Public Speaking Really More Feared Than Death?.
Full article: Is Public Speaking Really More Feared Than Death?
The Thing We Fear More Than Death | Psychology Today Australia

What are the most common fears and phobias that people have today? Most of us can relate to having a healthy fear of sharks or getting sweaty palms at the idea of being stuck in a tiny space. It’s also pretty socially acceptable for someone to opt out of bungee jumping, or for a fellow aeroplane passenger to need a few deep breaths to calm themselves before takeoff. 
 
Then of course there’s the fear of public speaking - which we all fear more than death, right? Maybe not… This claim seems to link back to a publication from 1977 called The Book of Lists, which in turn cites the London Times… which in turn references the 1973 Burskin Report. This claims that 41 per cent of people feared speaking before a group, whereas only 19 per cent feared death. 
 
But is it really true? 
 
CHAPTERS:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">00:00 The fear of public speaking</li>
<li aria-level="1">05:29 Defining fear and phobia</li>
<li aria-level="1">10:24 Research findings: 1977 Book of Lists </li>
<li aria-level="1">13:04 The fear of heights and deep water</li>
<li aria-level="1">15:29 Top 10 Fears in America</li>
<li aria-level="1">16:31 White Supremacists and High Medical Bills</li>
<li aria-level="1">18:02 Fear of Ghosts and Zombies</li>
<li aria-level="1">20:49 Australia’s fears: Social Phobias and Agoraphobia</li>
<li aria-level="1">22:22 Fear of Swooping Magpies</li>
<li aria-level="1">26:26 The Boring Apocalypse</li>
<li aria-level="1">28:28 What’s next on the Wholesome Show</li>
</ul>
 
PREVIOUS EPISODES MENTIONED:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6jqdcErOos&amp;ab_channel=TheWholesomeShow">Mary Shelley, Taphophobia and Life-Preserving Coffins</a></li>
</ul>
 
SOURCES:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Solomon, Robert C., <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195368536.003.0008">'Self-Reproach in Guilt, Shame, and Pride', True to Our Feelings: What Our Emotions Are Really Telling Us</a> (2008; online edn, Oxford Academic, 3 Oct. 2011) </li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="http://joyfulpublicspeaking.blogspot.com/2009/10/14-worst-human-fears-according-to-1977.html">The 14 Worst Human Fears in the 1977 Book of Lists: where did this data really come from?</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.speakschmeak.com/2008/04/public-speaking-vs-death.html">https://www.speakschmeak.com/2008/04/public-speaking-vs-death.html</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.talkspace.com/blog/list-of-phobias-common-therapy/">Top 10 Most Common Phobias List — Talkspace</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/oct/02/top-10-phobias-and-what-they-reveal-about-the-strangeness-of-life">Top 10 phobias and what they reveal about the strangeness of life | Mental health | The Guardian</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.chapman.edu/wilkinson/research-centers/babbie-center/_files/Babbie%20center%20fear2021/blogpost-americas-top-fears-2020_-21-final.pdf">America's Top Fears 2020/2021 | Chapman University</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-01/ten-of-the-most-common-phobias/6439210">Phobias: The ten most common fears people hold - ABC News</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/public-speaking-really-more-feared-than-death-harj-gahley#:~:text=Most%20people%20are%20not%20aware,there%20any%20truth%20to%20this%3F&amp;text=In%20fact%2C%20the%20vast%20majority,National%20Institutes%20of%20Mental%20Health">Is Public Speaking Really More Feared Than Death?</a>.</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08824096.2012.667772">Full article: Is Public Speaking Really More Feared Than Death?</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/the-real-story-risk/201211/the-thing-we-fear-more-death">The Thing We Fear More Than Death | Psychology Today Australia</a></li>
</ul>

From tales of historical idiocracy and scientific genius to weird and wacky cultural phenomena, Dr Rod Lamberts and Dr Will Grant are here to take you on a wild conversational journey, deep diving into the crevices of science, history and culture that you never knew existed. 

From tales of historical idiocracy and scientific genius to weird and wacky cultural phenomena, Dr Rod Lamberts and Dr Will Grant are here to take you on a wild conversational journey, deep diving into the crevices of science, history and culture that you never knew existed.

Science stories for people who sit up the back of…

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