Tom Jacobs passes along some research:
According to one school of thought, this tendency to exaggerate the strength of our adversaries serves a specific psychological function. It is less scary to place all our fears on a single, strong enemy than to accept the fact our well-being is largely based on factors beyond our control. An enemy, after all, can be defined, analyzed and perhaps even defeated.
(Hat tip: MR)
This article available online at:
http://www.theatlantic.com/daily-dish/archive/2010/03/the-comfort-of-powerful-enemies/189367/
