Podcast Summary
Psychic numbing: Feeling indifferent to large-scale suffering: Psychic numbing can lead us to disregard safety measures during the pandemic, causing harm to ourselves and others, despite overwhelming statistics of death and illness.
Psychologist Paul Slovic, known for his research on human decision-making and risk perception, discusses the psychological phenomenon of psychic numbing. This occurs when we feel indifferent to the suffering of large numbers of people, even when we should be emotionally connected. Slovic believes this phenomenon is contributing to decisions that put us at risk during the pandemic, such as not wearing masks or physically distancing, despite approaching 500,000 COVID-19 deaths in the US. He emphasizes the importance of understanding this phenomenon and how it can lead us to act against our values. Overall, Slovic's research highlights the role emotions play in our decision-making, often overshadowing statistics.
Our feelings can be misleading when dealing with large numbers of risks or individuals affected: Feelings are not accurate for quantitative assessment of risks and can lead to insensitivity towards larger numbers of risks or individuals affected, particularly during pandemics.
Our feelings, while a sophisticated way to process risk information, can be misleading when dealing with large numbers of risks or individuals affected. Psychologist Paul Slovic explains that our gut feelings are not good at quantitative assessment and are energized by singularity effect, meaning we care less as the numbers increase. This phenomenon, called "the more who die, the less we care," can lead to insensitivity towards larger numbers of risks or individuals affected. This can be particularly relevant during situations like pandemics, where our feelings may not accurately reflect the true extent of the risk or harm. It's important to be aware of this limitation of our emotional response system and consider other sources of information to make informed decisions.
Understanding the Impact of Global Issues through Personal Stories: Being mindful of the information we consume, engaging with personal stories, and thoughtfully considering the impact of global issues can help combat psychic numbing and motivate action.
Our emotions can deceive us and hinder our response to important global issues, such as the pandemic, genocides, and climate change. Our feelings may lead us to disconnect from the reality of these issues due to psychic numbing, causing us to overlook the gravity of the situation. The first step to combating this is increasing awareness and being mindful of the information we consume. Instead of solely focusing on statistics, we should also engage with personal stories of individuals affected by these issues. As individuals, we must take the time to thoughtfully consider the information presented to us and not just rely on quick, intuitive feelings. By doing so, we can better understand the impact of these issues and be motivated to take action. For journalists and science communicators, sharing personal stories in addition to statistics is crucial for effectively conveying the significance of these global challenges.
The Power of Dramatic Incidents in Raising Awareness: Dramatic incidents or events can significantly increase public interest and donations during critical windows of opportunity, but the impact may not be long-lasting.
The world was largely indifferent to the Syrian war and resulting refugee crisis for four years, with minimal interest reflected in Google searches and donations. However, this changed when a photograph of a drowned Syrian child named Alin Kurdi went viral, leading to a surge in public interest and donations. This phenomenon is an example of psychic numbing, where people relate more strongly to stories and images than to statistics. The impact was not long-lasting, as interest and donations decreased over time. This research underscores the importance of dramatic incidents or events in raising awareness and motivating action during critical windows of opportunity. We are witnessing another such moment in the aftermath of the attack on the Capitol.
Recognize opportunities for change and take action: During times of unrest, every action counts towards making a difference and bringing us closer to a better future.
During times of social and political unrest, it's crucial to recognize the opportunity for change and take action, no matter how small. Complacency can be a barrier to progress, and it's essential to understand that even partial solutions can make a significant impact. The current pandemic is a reminder that every action counts, and we should not be deterred from making a difference due to the perceived scale of the problem. The recent rise in awareness of right-wing extremism and racial injustice serves as a wake-up call to act and challenge the false sense of inefficacy. As we navigate through challenging times, it's important to remember that every step forward, no matter the size, brings us closer to a better future.
