Our Brain Tricks Us Regarding Risks During Covid Pandemic

None of us has been through a pandemic like this one and that undermines our decision capacity for dealing with it. Marshall Allen and Meg Marco write an article for Pro Publica explaining.

We tend to learn best through experience and since we’ve not been through anything like the current pandemic we face uncertain and ambiguous decisions. The brain would much prefer black and white, clear answers and cause and effect.

People aren’t stupid. But they get mixed signals from government officials and scientists so ambiguity arises and many take unnecessary risks, even at the highest level of government.

Social norms also play a powerful part in our risk assessments. If we are surrounded by people that behave in a certain way we are more likely to behave the same way. Remember when smoking was cool? Likewise, there are groups of people who feel masks are unnecessary. They will likely reinforce each other.

Allen and Marco tell the story of a friend holding her kids out of school, choosing to go with virtual instruction. She was much relieved to find another friend was also holding her kids out of school, affirming her own feelings.

Our tricked brain needs some help. Leadership is more important than ever.

Here’s the article: How Your Brain Tricks You Into Taking Risks During the Pandemic