Motivation and emotion/Book/2026/Apocalyptic fear

Apocalyptic Fear:
What is apocalyptic fear, what are its consequences, and how can it be dealt with?

Overview

In the next 30 seconds, try to list 5 end-of-the-world movies or TV shows.

...was that easier than you expected? Have you noticed that film, TV and pop culture gravitate towards producing media with doomsday themes? The end of the world, the (very un-natural) natural disaster, a zombie apocalypse or artificial intelligence (Wikipedia) (AI) taking over the world! Audience love doomsday media.

Why do we love to consume objectively terrifying stories exploring mass destruction and the end of existence as we know it?

Apocalyptic fear is more common than you'd this and a quick review of today's media landscape is evidence of that.

This book chapter is going to follow the case study of Evan, a (describe Evan in line with findings relating to who is susceptible to apocalyptic fear).

It's 2023, and Evan has just watched "Leave the World Behind", (Wikipedia) a modern day psychological, apocalyptic thriller regarding a mass cyber attack on the United States (US). Throughout this chapter we will evaluate Evan's own experience of Apocalyptic Fear informed by the movie, psychological theories underpinning this phenomenon, its consequences and how it can be managed.

Explanation of the problem, issue, or topc: Briefly explain the problem, why it is important, and outline how psychological science can help

Apocalyptic Fear is recorded under different terminology in the literature (apocalyptic fear, apocalyptic thinking, apocalypticism, existential fear). The phenomenon is the fear of an event of great destruction often resulting in the end of the world (Fetterman, 2019).
Apocalyptic Fear is primarily observable in cultural sub-groups known as 'Doomsday peppers. Preppers are people who practice the anticipation of and adapting to impending conditions of calamity (Garret, B. 2020).
There are several psychological theories that underpin apocalyptic fear and its consequences. Garret (2020) explains that the inability for peppers to know which disaster is going to strike, coupled with the perceived inevitability of a catastrophe has effects of dread which create the prepping behaviour.
Is prepping from apocalyptic in itself a bad symptom in need of management? This chapter will review consequences of apocalyptic fear including prepping, maladaptive behaviours, out-group hate, and anti-social behaviour. We will also examine the reciprocal influences of apocalyptic thinking on culture and politics.
Finally, the chapter will explore strategies to manage apocalyptic fear including psychotherapies and more practical remedies such as media literacy training and education.

Focus questions

What is Apocalyptic Fear?
What are the consequences of Apocalyptic Fear on an individual, society and politics?
What can be done to manage Apocalyptic Fear?

What is Apocalyptic Fear?

Will remove: Introductory section before breaking into sub-sections.
In the literature, Apocalyptic Fear is also referred to as 'Apocalyptic Thinking', 'End of world Beliefs', 'Catastrophic Thinking' and 'Doomsday Thinking'.
Whilst Apocalyptic Fear is not a mental health diagnosis. However, it is apparent that those who experience these thought patters are associated with diagnosis and experiences of other mental health related struggles, particularly anxiety (Fetterman, 2019).

Psychological Theories

Instinct theory of motivation suggests that apocalyptic fear is an evolutionary adaptive response to a perceived threat (Turner and Walsmley, 2020). Apocalyptic thinking is an innate response when a threat is detected and survival behaviour is motivated.
Social Dominance Orientation / Darwinistic worldviews explain that apocalyptic fear is underpinned through competition between humans and survival of the fittest thinking. Finding from Fetterman (2019) indicate that those who engage in post-apocalyptic survival mindset, are also high in the social dominance orientation traits.
Terror Management Theory explains that apocalyptic fear is a symptom of mortality awareness (Stieger et al., 2023). When an individual perceives the salience of mortality, their existential anxiety is heightened. Apocalyptic fear and prepping behaviour is an outcome of the individual trying to manage their existential dread.
Theory of Planned Behaviour suggests that the attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control contribute to the intention and subsequently behaviour of prepping. An individuals apocalyptic fear, informed by these domains is turned into action (Fetterman, 2019).

Who is susceptible?

Study: Piazza, J (2025.) Christian Nationalists more likely to hold apocalyptic views.
Those who believe in higher god or higher being are more prone to prepping beliefs and behaviours. lower agreeableness, openness, extraversion and humility, high on neuroticism (Fetterman, 2019).
High on Social Dominance Orientation (SDO), competitiveness and selfishness low on agreeableness (John & Srivastava, 1999).

What are environmental triggers of Apocalyptic Fear?

Reflection of catastrophe's in pop culture. It has been argued that the presence of apocalyptic themes in media is a tangible reflection (project test) of personality (Fetterman, 2019)
Post COVID-19 anxiety was found to be a motivator of prepping behaviour in a study of 126 self-identified doomsday peppers. Other motivators included fear about security in sociopoltiical landscape and person crises. The online prepper communities demonstrated 4 themes: social learning of prepping behaviour online, within-group differences in personal views, sense of community, and lack of engagement (Marshe, 2025).
War and political unrest. Mass broadcasting and accessibility to distressing media around the world.

Case Study Continued.

This aim of this feature box is to continue the story of Evan who has watched the Apocalyptic movie to put into action how Apocalyptic Fear can develop through cognition/psychology and who is susceptible. The case study will include more background on Evan's sociocultural background, political/religious beliefs etc. Evan's demographics will align with the findings of the literature identified in my preliminary view. Furthermore, the case study will provide insight into Evan's internal thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes. Once again, this will align with the literature where his personality traits and anxious rumination suggests that he is more susceptible to apocalyptic fear. I also want this part of the case study to demonstrate how a piece of media can influence the internal thinking patterns, leading to apocalyptic fear

Consequences of Apocalyptic Fear

Introductory section before breaking into sub-sections

The Individual

Prepping behaviour. Prepping is the management of stockpiled household items in anticipation of market disruption (Nair, 2023). When people perceive their lives as "not going well," prepping increases to regain feelings of control.
Generate feelings of distrust and competition for finite resources. Daily thoughts of death and cynicism. Prepping behaviour to gain control of an uncontrollable, inevitable conclusion (Fetterman, 2019).
Higher prepping correlates with high neuroticism, daily thoughts of death, high levels of anxiety and pessimistic future thinking. Apocalyptic fear reinforces maladaptive coping like catastrophising, and conspiracy thinking.

Society and Culture

Reinforcement of outgroup hate leading to acceptive and expression of political violence (Piazza, 2025). Intergroup threat theory suggests that the threat posed by apocalyptic thinking increases in-group cohesion and outgroup hostility.

Politics

Some scholars argue that the apocalypse should not play a role in politics at all (Davidson, 2024).
Used as a political tool in political movements to advance causes. e.g. climate activists. (Davidson, 2024).
Piazza (2025) study suggests that there is a correlational relationship between political violence and apocalypticism. It is estimated that 70% of the support for political violence by Christian nationalists is due to apocalyptic thinking.

Case Study continued: Maladaptive and adaptive behaviours Evan is displaying to cope with his uncomfortable anxieties about the end of the world

Managing Apocalyptic Fear

One may question whether behaviours associated with Apocalyptic Fear need to be managed. Does it actually need to be treated or managed? Prepping behaviour as a result of Apocalyptic Anxiety is not inherently 'bad'. However, it can become maladaptive. It should be noted that a change in this phenomenon can only occur once the individual innately want to commit to the change. Idea: Talk to behaviour change models.

Strategies

Cognitive restructuring to challenge thought patterns that reinforce catastrophic predictions and exaggeration of non-existent threats.
A 2022 Study by Sabzevari demonstrated that existential therapy is a tool to reduce anxiety related to COVID-19 and death. This type of therapy helps individuals develop sincere and real relationships with life and death. Describe and critique the therapy.
Acceptance & Commitment therapy. Guthrie (2022) studied how acceptance and commitment therapy can support individuals coping with climate-related apocalyptic fear. Describe and critique the therapy.
Strengthening social cohesion and community resilience.

Media Literacy

Media hygiene. Reduce exposure to sensationalist apocalyptic content (Menzies & Menzies, 2024).
Importance of sharing of accurate information.
Limiting antisocial media use.

Final part of case study. Going to explain maladaptive symptoms and suggestions that his friend, Ricki, has made to help him combat his apocalyptic fear. This may include activities that increase social cohesion, media hygiene, and education.

Case study will ask audience to reflect on what they would suggest Evan does to manage his apocalyptic fear.

Conclusion

Apocalyptic fear is common and emerges from evolutionary instincts, existential concerns, personality traits, and especially environmental triggers.
It has meaningful consequences that impact individuals, their mental health and coping mechanisms, societies social cohesion and polarisation, and political violence.
Psychological science provides effective tools for managing apocalyptic thinking patterns. Science not only helps us understand how apocalyptic fear develops, but provides strategies and therapies to combat it. Existential therapies, acceptance therapy, and increased media education and literacy helps people manage in health ways.
Reducing apocalyptic fear requires both internal straggles of change (cognitive, emotional, and existential) and external strategies (accurate information, social connect, and media hygiene).

Suggestions for this section: LEAVING THIS SECTION FOR FUTURE REFERENCE

What is the answer to the sub-title question based on psychological theory and research?
What are the answers to the focus questions?
What are the practical, take-home messages?

Suggestions for this section: LEAVING THIS SECTION FOR FUTURE REFERENCE

Only select links to major internal resources about the topic
Include the source in parentheses

References

This section lists the cited references in APA style (7th ed.) or wiki style.

Adkins, J., Djupe, P. A., & Neiheisel, J. R. (2023). Preparedness Behavior and the apocalypse: religion and politics in the post 2020 election era. Politics and Religion, 16(4), 585–604. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/politics-and-religion/article/preparedness-behavior-and-the-apocalypse-religion-and-politics-in-the-post-2020-election-era/39FA605571043F7C03281B5B15C2C9E4

Davison, J. (2025). The Apocalypse from Below: The Dangerous Idea of the End of the World, the Politics of the Oppressed, and Anti-Anti-Apocalypticism. American Political Science Review, 119(1), 479–491. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/american-political-science-review/article/apocalypse-from-below-the-dangerous-idea-of-the-end-of-the-world-the-politics-of-the-oppressed-and-antiantiapocalypticism/054311423D0D7BC9E3B7586C894F0CAB

Fetterman, A., et al. (2019). On Post-apocalyptic and Doomsday Prepping Beliefs: A New Measure, its Correlates and the Motivation to Prep. European Journal of Personality, 33(4), 506-525. https://doi.org/10.1002/per.2216

Furse, T. (2022). ‘Let us go out to the Field’: Apocalyptic Thinking in Christian Nationalism. Politics, Religion & Ideology, 23(3), 306–326. https://doi.org/10.1080/21567689.2022.2123802

Garret, B. (2020). Doomsday preppers and the architecture of dread. Geoforum, 127(1), 401-411. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7151311/

Guthrie, D. (2023). How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Eco-Apocalypse: An Existential Approach to Accepting Eco-Anxiety. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 18(1), 210-223. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/17456916221093613

Menzies, R. & Menzies, R. (2024). Existential therapies and the extended evolutionary meta-model: Turning existential philosophy into process-based therapy. Journal of Contextual Behaviour Science, 34(1). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212144724001200

Nair, T. (2023). Doomsday Prepping: Reactionary Behaviour or Inherited Instinct? Seattle Anxiety. https://seattleanxiety.com/psychiatrist/2023/1/12/doomsday-prepping-reactionary-behavior-or-inherited-instinct

Parsons, S. (2022). Terror Management Theory. EBSCO.com https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/social-sciences-and-humanities/terror-management-theory

Piazza, J. A. (2026). Christian nationalism, apocalypticism, outgroup hate, and support for violent extremism.Defence and Peace Economics, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/10242694.2026.2613902

Sabzevari, P. (2022). The Effectiveness of Existential Therapy Intervention on Anxiety Caused by Coronavirus and Death. Clinical Cancer Investigation Journal, 11(1). https://ccij-online.org/article/the-effectiveness-of-existential-therapy-intervention-on-anxiety-caused-by-coronavirus-and-death-ec5qns1rnmgi9ju

Stieger, S. et al. (2023). Examining terror management theory in Ukraine: impact of air-raid alarms and explosions on mental health, somatic symptoms and well-being. Front. Psychiatry, 14(1). https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1244335/full

Strozier, S. (2017). The Apocalyptic Imagination and Fundamentalist Mindset. New England Journal of Public Policy, 29(1). https://scholarworks.umb.edu/nejpp/vol29/iss1/7/

Suggestions for this section:

Wrap the set of references in the hanging indent template:
- Use "Edit source"
- {{Hanging indent|1= the full list of references}}
Important aspects of APA referencing style
- Author surname, followed by a comma, then the author initials separated by full stops and spaces
- Year of publication in parentheses
- Title of work in lower case (except first letter and proper names), ending in a full-stop
- Journal title in italics, volume number in italics, issue number in parentheses, first and last page numbers separated by an en-dash(–), followed by a full-stop
- doi as a URL which is a working hyperlink (i.e., clickable)
The most common mistakes include:
- Incorrect capitalisation
- Incorrect italicisation
- dois which aren't clickable as working hyperlinks
- Citing sources that haven't been consulted

Resources

Agents of Doom: Who is creating the apocalypse and why (Luke Kemp)
Addicted to Apocalypse: Our Psychological Need for the End (The Living Philosophy)
Doomsday Preppers (National Geographic)

	He is grappling with anxieties regarding death being inevitable.
	The characters in the film modelled the appropriate response to anxiety inducing environment.
	Evans survival instincts kicked in.
	Evan believes the film is predicting the future.

	The movie
	Engaging in reddit threads about end-of-world conspiracy theories
	Media reporting on the Ukraine War
	Covid-19 Lockdown

Point added for a correct answer:
Points for an incorrect answer:
Ignore the questions' coefficients:

Point added for a correct answer:
Points for an incorrect answer:
Ignore the questions' coefficients: