The SquizLog

Schneier on The Psychology of Security

Is terrorism really the threat that it's often pumped up to be? Usually not in reality.

In his essay The Psychology of Security, security expert Bruce Schneier sheds more light on this question by distinguishing between the reality of security and the perception of security. Schneier asks:

"Why is it that, even if someone knows that automobiles kill 40,000 people each year in the U.S. alone and airplanes kill only hundreds world-wide, they are more afraid of airplanes than automobiles? Why is it that, when food poisoning kills 5,000 people per year and 9/11 terrorists killed 2,973 people in only one year, are we spending tens of billions per year on terrorism defense and almost never think about food poisoning?"

He goes on to contend that psychology explains these irrational responses.

It is a fascinating exploration of how the human brain evaluates security trade-offs.

Posted to Psychology, Security by Keith Pitty