A great article on Bruce Schneier’s site about the difference between Perceived Risk vs Actual Risk.

Here’s some bullet points

# We over-react to intentional actions, and under-react to accidents, abstract events, and natural phenomena.

# We over-react to things that offend our morals.

# We over-react to immediate threats and under-react to long-term threats.

# We under-react to changes that occur slowly and over time.