When Fear is Greater Than Joy, Silence and Violence Win

Americans want to stay connected, but fear is creeping into every corner of our lives. From our monthly surveys of 1,000 Americans aged 18 and above, the data is telling.

39% say it’s challenging to empathize with those who see the world differently.

• Empathy is the bridge that keeps relationships intact, even when disagreements arise. Nearly 4 in 10 Americans are telling us that the bridge is shaky.

Only 26% feel very comfortable speaking up when their opinion goes against the group. For

• Gen Z, that number drops to just 21%. Gen X fares the best of all generations but is still only slightly better at 31%. These aren’t strong numbers for a society that depends on open dialogue and prides itself on freedom of speech. Silence is becoming the default. In friendships, in classrooms, in workplaces, people are holding back rather than risking conflict.

41% agree they are more fearful today than before the pandemic to be out in public.

• Here’s the twist: it’s not because of COVID, but because of bad behavior and rising violence. That’s nearly half of the country saying public spaces feel less safe. The pandemic shifted how we interact, and now a new layer of unease has settled in. Fear isn’t confined to politics or disagreements. It’s following people into restaurants, retail stores, and everyday life.

There is hope: 58% believe friendships can thrive even through political differences.

• Parents and Black Americans are the most optimistic at 65%. Gen Z and Hispanics are least confident at 53%. More than half (54%) agree that people with different views often have good intentions, and a similar 53% say they’ve learned valuable things from people they strongly disagree with. That optimism across the board is an important counterweight to the data on fear.

These numbers tell a sobering story.

Joy means connection, empathy, and courage to speak. But when fear grows louder, silence and violence fill the space instead. That’s the choice we face, every day, in our friendships, workplaces, and communities.

So What? Now What?

We believe friendships can survive differences, yet empathy is harder, speaking up is rarer, and nearly half of us feel less safe out in public than before the pandemic. Fear has taken the driver’s seat. And when fear is greater than joy, silence and violence win.

We can flip the story. Joy shows up when we choose empathy over judgment. When we make space for every voice at the table. When we show through our actions that civility still matters. Whether a leader, a parent, or simply just a human, each of us has the power to create places where connection feels stronger than fear.

The data makes it clear: people want connection, but they are holding back because fear is louder. The challenge (and the opportunity) is to give people reasons to trust that speaking up, listening in, and leaning into friendship is worth it. If fear continues to dominate, silence and violence take over. If joy leads, we rebuild and truly fortify the bridges that hold us together.

The challenge (and the opportunity) is to give people reasons to trust that speaking up, listening in, and leaning into friendship is worth it.

#Joy #Listening #Politics #Fear

AUTHOR BIO

Lisa W. Miller has over 30 years of consumer insights and innovation experience, collecting nearly a million consumer interviews qualitatively and quantitively. She conducts a monthly consumer sentiment survey along with custom research projects tailored to clients from restaurants & hospitality, retail, healthcare, and more industries.

Lisa conveys excitement, hope and real hands-on tools to revamp organizational goals and growth. She strategically transforms companies and improves bottom-line results by using the “DNA” of the Business of JOY.

Lisa is a 3-time EFFIE Winner for Advertising Effectiveness, recipient of the David Ogilvy Research Award, and author of the book, The Business of JOY, based on over 87,000 consumer interviews and countless hours spent interviewing business leaders and frontline employees. Her book gives a 360-degree view of the pandemic — translating insights into an actionable framework for the future. Lisa’s data became a leading indicator of economic recovery. According to Lisa, “Economic recovery and growth begin when JOY is greater than Fear.”