"The Jaws Effect is finally wearing off, a promising new study has revealed. Named after the 1975 thriller, the Jaws Effect describes how films featuring sharks fuel a fear of the creatures in the real world. In a new study, researchers from the University of South Australia asked hundreds of people to describe sharks in three words. While 'teeth', 'jaws' and 'predator' were some of the most common answers, the vast majority (66 per cent) of the descriptors were neutral."
"'Public perceptions of sharks are more nuanced than the stereotypical "menacing predator" narrative often seen in the media,' said lead author Dr Brianna Le Busque. 'While fear was a common theme, we also saw a substantial number of positive words, like "majestic," "beautiful" and "fascinating." 'This mix suggests that while fear persists, many people also recognize sharks as ecologically important and awe-inspiring animals.'"
Public attitudes toward sharks are becoming more nuanced and less dominated by a menacing-predator image. Participants from the US, Australia and the UK (371 people) described sharks in three words. Common descriptors included 'teeth', 'jaws' and 'predator', but 66% of descriptors were neutral. A substantial number of positive words appeared, including 'majestic', 'beautiful' and 'fascinating'. Shark attacks remained rare, with 47 confirmed unprovoked cases worldwide in 2024 and seven fatalities. Galeophobia persists as a common phobia and has been historically amplified by films depicting violent shark attacks. Many people also recognize sharks as ecologically important and awe-inspiring.
Read at Mail Online
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