Why are people prone to willful blindness when it comes to bad news?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the concept of "willful blindness," a term originating from legal contexts that describes the refusal to acknowledge uncomfortable truths. Participants note that this phenomenon is exacerbated by social media, which creates echo chambers that allow individuals to avoid confronting challenging information. The book "Willful Blindness" by Margaret Heffernan is recommended for further exploration of this topic. The conversation emphasizes the psychological and societal implications of ignoring bad news.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of the term "willful blindness" and its legal origins.
  • Familiarity with social media dynamics and their impact on information consumption.
  • Basic knowledge of psychological concepts related to cognitive dissonance.
  • Awareness of societal trends in information sharing and avoidance.
NEXT STEPS
  • Read "Willful Blindness" by Margaret Heffernan for an in-depth analysis of the concept.
  • Research cognitive dissonance and its effects on decision-making.
  • Explore the role of social media algorithms in shaping information exposure.
  • Investigate strategies for fostering open dialogue about uncomfortable truths in communities.
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for psychologists, sociologists, communication professionals, and anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of information avoidance and its societal impacts.

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The link looks like it might be depressing, so I'm not going to click into it...
 
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This reminds me of "willful blindness". I find it interesting that this term was not mentioned in the article. Willful blindness started out as a legal term for refusing to know or learn something that a reasonable person would or should know. It can be used for refusing to learn that which makes us uncomfortable or presents us with a conundrum that we do not wish to deal with.

And then there are the social media which further help us avoid that which we could or should know or learn by fractionating society making it easier to find a friendly environment and avoid information that makes us uncomfortable.

For an interesting discussion of willful blindness, read the book by Margaret Heffernan https://www.amazon.com/dp/0802777961/?tag=pfamazon01-20
 
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