For the past 11 years, this dedicated group of researchers with a very cool nickname has conducted the annual Chapman University Survey of American Fears. This year, they surveyed 1,015 adult Americans on what they fear most, from sharks to heights to identity theft. This chart shows American’s top 10 fears in 2025. Image: Chapman University Survey of American Fears 2025There can often be a disconnect between the things we fear and reality, he explained. Fear, like anxiety, often feeds on isolation, so the stronger your community, the better.