Max Dehne develops the foundations for a systematic sociological investigation of fear in his work. His interdisciplinary and adaptable concept allows for the systematic determination of the socio-structural and cultural conditions of fear, as well as fear-related mechanisms. Using a model based on theories of dynamic systems, these aspects are conceptualized as components of a fear process shaped by complex interactions, which is both psychological and social in nature. In the empirical section, the author examines the historical development and social distribution of fear. There are no indications of a current fear society or a particularly pronounced "German Angst." Numerous other detailed findings also point to a significant potential for future empirical social research on fear.