Podcast Summary
The Paradox of Ignoring Important Information: Never avoid important information, no matter how uncomfortable, as it can never hurt a decision. Stay informed and face potential discomfort head-on.
While it's important to stay informed, the brain's natural inclination to avoid painful information can sometimes lead us to tune out at the very moments when we need to pay attention the most. This paradox between what's rationally important and emotionally painful can result in us deleting or ignoring messages, even if they contain crucial information. However, according to economist Josh Tassoff, it's crucial to never avoid information, no matter how anxiety-provoking or depressing it may be, because it can never hurt a decision. Instead, we should strive to stay informed and face the potential discomfort head-on. This week on Hidden Brain, we delve deeper into the consequences of ignoring important information and why our brains sometimes tempt us to look away.
The Ostrich Effect: Avoiding Unpleasant Information: People tend to avoid information that causes emotional pain or stress, leading to missed opportunities and a lack of knowledge. Awareness of this tendency can help us make a conscious effort to seek out important information, even if it's unpleasant.
Humans often exhibit "information aversion," or the tendency to avoid unpleasant information, even if it could potentially benefit us. This behavior, also known as the "ostrich effect," is not limited to financial information or news. People may avoid information that causes emotional pain or stress, such as news about political upsets or personal misfortunes. Even when faced with important information, such as health or financial updates, people may prefer to avoid it if they find it unpleasant. This behavior can lead to missed opportunities and a lack of knowledge, but it's a natural response to the emotional pain that can come with obtaining unpleasant information. Understanding this tendency can help us be more mindful of our information consumption and make a conscious effort to seek out information that is important, even if it's not always pleasant.
People's eagerness for potential rewards makes them pay for information: People are willing to pay for information about potential rewards, even if it doesn't directly benefit them in the present moment.
People are more eager to receive information about potential rewards, even if the information itself holds no value in their decision-making process. This was demonstrated in an experiment where volunteers were presented with two envelopes, one labeled big and one labeled small, each potentially containing cash. Despite the fact that receiving the information early was useless, 83.4% of volunteers paid to open their envelopes immediately. This desire for information was even more pronounced when the potential reward was larger. This finding suggests that people have a natural inclination towards seeking out positive information, and are willing to pay for it, even when it doesn't directly benefit them in the present moment.
Undergrads prefer to avoid HSV testing despite education and confidentiality: Undergrads prioritize avoiding genital HSV education and testing over $10, indicating a strong stigma and fear associated with it.
College undergrads, who are at a high risk for contracting herpes simplex viruses (HSV), showed a strong aversion to getting tested for the disease despite the researchers' efforts to eliminate common barriers such as cost and confidentiality. The study, which involved graphic education about HSV and a mandatory blood test, found that participants were more likely to pay $10 to avoid learning about genital herpes than oral herpes, indicating a greater stigma and fear associated with the former. This finding highlights the importance of addressing the psychological and social aspects of sexually transmitted diseases, in addition to the medical ones, to encourage testing and prevent the spread of infections.
People's aversion to negative health information: Despite the importance of health information, some people avoid it due to anxiety, stress or fear, even when it's in their best interest.
People's aversion to information, particularly when it comes to potentially negative news about their health, can lead them to make irrational decisions. In a study, students were offered a herpes test, and while a majority chose to get tested, 20% paid to avoid the results. The students who declined often cited anxiety or stress as their reasons. Interestingly, those in a good mood were more likely to avoid the information than those in a bad mood. These findings challenge the assumption that people will always act rationally when it comes to their health. Fear tactics, commonly used in public service announcements, may be effective in changing behavior, but their use is questionable. People's aversion to information can lead them to make decisions that are not in their best interest.
Fear may not be effective for long-term behavior change: Fear can motivate one-time actions but not long-term commitments. Creating a convenient and accessible environment is more effective for encouraging regular behavior change.
While fear can be effective in getting someone to do something once, it may not be effective in encouraging regular and long-term behavior change. For instance, Dolores' research on the effectiveness of fear in transforming behavior found that fear works better for one-time actions, such as getting vaccinated, but not for long-term commitments like following a healthy diet. Ritesh's research on women's decisions to get screened for breast cancer adds to this finding, showing that fear, in the form of a colleague's diagnosis, can actually decrease the likelihood of women getting screened for at least two more years. Instead, creating a convenient and accessible environment, like the company in Ritesh's study, can be more effective in encouraging regular and long-term behavior change.
Avoidance of painful information: People facing serious challenges may avoid information due to fear of the unknown or potential pain, especially those with late-stage cancer or injury. Acknowledging this tendency can aid in effective communication and emotional support.
People, especially when facing serious health issues or other significant life challenges, often experience information aversion. This means they avoid seeking out information that they believe will be painful or unpleasant. This behavior is more common among individuals with late-stage cancer, as seen in a study where women who knew a colleague dying from breast cancer were more likely to skip mammograms. This phenomenon was also illustrated through a personal story of a person who injured their ankle and tried to avoid getting a proper diagnosis due to fear of the potential severity. Understanding and acknowledging this human tendency can help in effectively communicating important information, while also providing emotional support and allowing individuals the space to process the psychological pain.
Leadership involves being decisive, clear, and empathetic: Leaders, like the one in the text, can use endearing terms to show approachability and help team growth. Partners can act as sculptors, shaping us towards our ideal selves.
Effective leadership involves being decisive, clear, and empathetic. The leader discussed in the text is a great example, using the term "Ducky" to show her endearing and approachable nature. In the upcoming episode of Hidden Brain, the focus shifts to relationships and the role of our partners in helping us become the best versions of ourselves. We all have an actual self and an ideal self, and our partners can serve as sculptors, helping us grow towards our aspirational selves. Tune in to Hidden Brain for more insights on this topic. Remember to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube for more thought-provoking content.
