“Optimism bias” that interprets things in your own way even though they are actually different. As the new corona infection spreads, there is concern about the impact of “optimism bias”. Why do we get carried away by naive thoughts such as “I’m sure I’ll be fine” and “There are no infected people here”? I will explain the 5 habits to understand the mechanism of the mind that optimism bias works and not to be swept away by unconscious bias.
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“it must be no problem”! Unfounded optimism bias and corona infection
Now that the spread of the new coronavirus is unstoppable, it seems that the areas where the declaration of emergency has been issued have not seen a good effect. One of the reasons why the flow of people does not decrease is the influence of “optimism bias”. “Optimism bias” is one of the cognitive biases that interpret things in your own favor. It is a habit of overly optimistically interpreting things like “I will manage somehow” even in dangerous situations.
There are fears that this optimism bias may be affecting the spread of the coronavirus. Even if you take off your mask for a while and talk to someone, “I’m sure you’ll be fine.” As more people take the situation lightly, naturally the spread of infection will not stop. In order not to be deceived by the optimism bias in your heart, let’s know the psychological mechanisms and countermeasures.
Read Also: How to prevent intelligent people from regretting their stupidity
Optimistic bias is likely to operate “Last-minute stress state”
“Optimism bias” is a psychological effect that occurs unconsciously to protect yourself from excessive stress. Anxiety about infection, a sense of futility in continuing to take infection control measures, and dissatisfaction with not being able to meet and talk with people. When stress builds up like this, the mind becomes very unstable.
The protracted corona misfortune is an unbearable pain for everyone. In order to get rid of that excessive stress, I unconsciously use an optimistic bias, saying, “It will work out somehow,” and try to regain my mental stability. Many people are in such a stressful state. I can understand that too.
A single moment of carelessness that exposes yourself and others to the risk of infection
However, if you are swept away by optimism bias due to the reaction of stress, you will expose yourself and others to the risk of infection. Even though we have been diligently taking infection control measures, a single drink or an invitation triggers an optimistic bias, and we end up taking risks and becoming infected. Such a sad fact is not someone else’s problem.
If you get carried away by the optimism bias, you may be happy for a moment, but after the infection, you will feel very painful and painful.
5 Habits to Avoid the Optimism Bias
So, what should we do to avoid being swept away by the “optimism bias” that we are exposed to excessive stress on a daily basis? I believe that it is important to keep the following five points in mind while thoroughly implementing basic infection control measures such as wearing a mask, avoiding the three Cs, refraining from going out unless it is absolutely necessary, and washing hands and gargling.
1. Don’t forget that “one person’s consciousness” drives society
The naive idea of ”I’m fine as one person” can easily change society. The “consciousness of one” is so powerful. On the contrary, no matter how naive thoughts spread, I stick to my convictions. Just one such person can change an entire society.
2. Don’t get stuck in one way of thinking.
He often sticks to a single way of thinking when proceeding with his mood and atmosphere that asks himself with “compound eyes” . Optimism bias is one of them. Once you start to think lightly, “I think I’ll be fine,” get in the habit of looking at things with “compound eyes” (multiple eyes), asking, “Is that really true?”
3. Ask multiple people for their opinion. In order to cultivate the 2 “compound eyes” that utilize telephones and online conference systems,
it is necessary to listen to the opinions of various people and broaden the “width of thinking”. Different people have different ways of looking at and thinking about things. It is recommended to use the telephone or web conferencing system to listen to the voices of various people while thinking, as it will make it easier to come up with new ideas based on various information.
4. Monitor the four areas of the mind and body with “metacognition”
In order to prevent extreme thoughts such as optimism bias from running wild, use “metacognition” (viewing yourself from a high position) and monitor the four areas of your mind and body. The four areas are (1) physical state, (2) emotional tendencies, (3) thinking tendencies, and (4) behavioral tendencies. By knowing your condition, you can think about what you really need for mental and physical stability.
5. Think about your “future self” and “future relationship with your loved onece with high aspirations
. However, what you really want to get is not “immediate profit”, but “making yourself and your loved ones happy”. For that reason, think with high aspirations about what you want your “future self” and “future relationship with your loved ones” to be. There should be things that can be considered and deepened because of the corona misfortune.
Now is the moment of truth. While thoroughly implementing basic infection control measures and keeping in mind the above five points, let’s overcome the challenges of the corona crisis without being swayed by the “optimistic bias” that springs up in everyone’s hearts.