Government-Induced Panic

You see it time and again. During a crisis a government will tell half-truths and lies "to prevent panic." And cause a panic, because people can tell they're being lied to.

This baffles me. The tactic never works, and is never necessary. From multiple sources and many examples we know that informed people don't panic. They may be concerned or even angry, but this doesn't cause panic; it motivates them to demand that their government act responsibly and fulfill its obligations.

. . .

I think I just figured out why some governments lie to their citizens "to prevent panic."