Chicken Littleism (noun)
/ˈtʃɪk.ɪn ˈlɪt.əl.ɪz.əm/
Definition:
The persistent tendency to exaggerate threats, predict imminent disaster, or sound alarms about societal,
environmental, or
technological change, often regardless of, or in opposition to, contrary evidence. This mindset is marked by a reflexive belief that progress leads to catastrophe and a reluctance to acknowledge stability or positive trends, especially when such trends undermine a narrative of inevitable decline.
Etymology:
Derived from the folk tale character Chicken Little, who panics and declares “the sky is falling” after being struck by a falling object, symbolizing alarmism or unfounded fear.
In
social commentary:
Chicken Littleism describes the psychological and social investment in a narrative of continuous crisis, where contrary evidence provokes not reassessment, but further entrenchment and often emotional backlash. It is tied to an identity or worldview dependent on the expectation of worrisome decline rather than measured observation of continuity or progress.
* Policymakers accused of Chicken Littleism continue to warn about collapse, despite data showing decades of
stability.
* The refusal to
acknowledge photographic
evidence of stable shorelines was dismissed as Chicken Littleism.
