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The media tends to exaggerate the prevalence of violence from "summary" of The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker
The media tends to exaggerate the prevalence of violence. Every day the news is filled with stories of murder, assault, terrorism, and war. We are bombarded with images of bloodshed and mayhem, creating the impression that violence is rampant and on the rise. It is easy to believe that we live in a dangerous world, where danger lurks around every corner. However, this perception is not supported by the data. In reality, violence has been steadily declining over the course of human history. The reason for this discrepancy lies in the nature of news reporting. The media has a bias towards reporting on events that are rare and shocking, as these are the stories that capture our attention and draw in viewers. As a result, acts of violence are given disproportionate coverage, creating the illusion that they are more common than they actually are. This phenomenon has been termed the "availability heuristic" by psychologists, whereby people judge the frequency of an event based on how easily they can recall examples of it. Furthermore, the media tends to focus on individual acts of violence, rather than broader trends and statistics. While a single act of terrorism or mass shooting may be tragic and horrifying, it does not necessarily reflect the overall level of violence in society. By fixating on these isolated incidents, the media distorts our perception of reality and leads us to believe that violence is more prevalent than it truly is. This sensationalist approach to reporting can have serious consequences, as it breeds fear and anxiety among the public, and can even influence policy decisions and public opinion. To combat this distortion, it is important for consumers of news to be aware of the biases present in media reporting. By critically evaluating the information presented to us, and seeking out a more balanced perspective, we can gain a more accurate understanding of the world around us. It is essential to look beyond the headlines and delve into the data and research that underlies them. Only then can we begin to see the true extent of the decline in violence that has taken place over the course of human history.
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