One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - The Fog

The world is filled with people who try to hard to suppress others through fear. But what does fear do to people? Why is it that in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest the nurse able to use fear to make the others in the ward conform into what she wants. However, it isn't just her that allows fear to drive the ward, but also this "fog" that the Chief talks about. The fog isn't something that you can see, hear, of feel, but rather the symbol of the fear that is controlling everyone. Chief needs the fear to be more tangible, that way, it makes more sense for the mind of a mental patient.