China Crisis -- Superpower Standoff and Psychological Stability.Entertainment & Lifestyle Editors/Health Writers LOS ANGELES--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--April 3, 2001 An untested president, a superpower standoff in a climate of political and economic uncertainty -- this is the stuff of a political thriller A political thriller is a thriller that is set against the backdrop of political power struggle. They usually involve various plots, rarely legal, designed to give political power to someone, while his opponents try to stop him from getting it. , but unfortunately, it is not fiction and has the potential to bring back dormant fears of nuclear confrontation in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. not seen since the Cuban Missile Crisis Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962, major cold war confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union. After the Bay of Pigs Invasion, the USSR increased its support of Fidel Castro's Cuban regime, and in the summer of 1962, Nikita Khrushchev secretly decided to . This according to psychologist and media commentator Robert R. Butterworth, Ph.D., who has conducted numerous surveys on the effect of nuclear-war fears on young people. This crisis began early Sunday when an unarmed EP-3 surveillance plane collided with a Chinese fighter jet and made an emergency landing on Hainan Island in southern China. Butterworth, in comparing the results of his last political survey with one he conducted in 1989 with Texas teen-agers and a March 1988 election survey of teens in 41 states, found a marked decrease in concern over nuclear war but a growing preoccupation with economic issues. "In my 1988 survey, 18 percent of youths polled felt that concerns over nuclear war should be a top worry for a presidential leader. It dropped to 13 percent in 1989, and in my 1992 study only 1 percent of young people believed nuclear war was the most important world issue. The developments in the last few days with China, however, could heighten anxiety over war and change these numbers," said Butterworth. "This crisis with China is really part of a one-two punch to the psychological stability of the nation. First, we have a teetering economy undermining economic stability and consumer confidence, and now we have a superpower confrontation that could awaken long-dormant fears associated with basic survival." Since 1984, Butterworth has helped radio, TV and print media find answers, providing insight to enhance understanding of psychological issues. Butterworth has conducted extensive surveys focused on children and youth, social and political issues, and trauma. Butterworth's comments, observations and op-ed articles have appeared in most of the major newspapers in the United States Newspapers have declined in their influence and penetration into American households over the years. The U.S. does not have a national paper per se, although the influential dailies the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal are sold in most U.S. cities. and worldwide. He is seen quite often on NBC NBC in full National Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. commercial broadcasting company. It was formed in 1926 by RCA Corp., General Electric Co. (GE), and Westinghouse and was the first U.S. company to operate a broadcast network. , CBS (Cell Broadcast Service) See cell broadcast. and ABC ABC in full American Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. television network. It began when the expanding national radio network NBC split into the separate Red and Blue networks in 1928. network news, especially during monumental events involving children and violence and during disasters and youth tragedies, exploring psychological reactions to breaking news. |
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