“The king of Israel replied to Jehoshaphat, ‘There is one more man who could consult the LORD for us, but I hate him. He never prophesies anything but trouble for me!’” (2 Chronicles 18:7 NLT)
The human tendency to accept what we want to hear while dismissing troublesome news has been around since Biblical times. This phenomenon of ignoring unfavorable warnings is called normalcy bias. Most of us would rather hear good news. We believe those who say that everything is going to be fine while distrusting those who advise caution. According to researchers, about 70% of people display normalcy bias during a disaster while 10% to 15% act appropriately. The majority take the ‘wait and see’ approach, delaying progress.
Early in the pandemic, health care workers, first responders, scientists, and other helpers were honored for their work. Now, scientists who warn the public about rising case numbers, hospitalizations, new variants, etc., are discredited and criticized for spreading fear. Health care workers who recommend vaccinations, masks, and physical distancing are vilified as alarmists. People who refrain from social gatherings are deemed overreactive and abnormal. After months and months of restrictions, the desire for normalcy is understandable. The whole world is tired of dealing with the virus. The helpers are extremely tired, too. Normalcy bias is harming all of us.
No comments:
Post a Comment