When individuals expect others to be victims of misfortune but not themselves, they exhibit optimism bias. It causes one to behave irresponsibly
When will things get normal?
Will things ever get normal?
The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has revealed a spectrum of human behaviour spanning from paranoia to frustration to indifference. Pessimists harped on the grim scenarios around the pandemic and projected a gloomy future with no hope of pre-pandemic normalcy.
Optimists viewed the pandemic as a routine 100-year ecological event unlikely to affect them much and that will soon end. In the tumult, people looked up to news channels and WhatsApp messages for COVID-19 updates, for they offered hope.
But it’s a difficult proposition for anyone who had the disease or lost a loved one to it. So, what should positivity mean in such times?
Masks, deserted malls and intermittent lockdowns won’t let anyone ignore the grim ‘new normal’. Amid the mayhem and despair that the pandemic caused, several were paranoid.
Frustrations rose amid the confines of an uncertain life. Quarantine and social distancing caused psychological distress, paving the way for alcohol abuse and self-harm. Drinking frequency of both men and women increased during the pandemic, according to research.
With pessimism, one inches towards higher dangers and peril. The ones already dealing with mental or physical sickness are even more vulnerable. Optimism is, therefore, needed to be preferred. It may be attained even if great conscious effort is needed in the new normal.
Optimists have reduced stress and anxiety, have stronger immune system and are less likely to catch infectious diseases, according to a research published in journal Science Direct. Optimists paint bright, futuristic scenarios while a pessimist would imagines just the opposite.
There were many who behaved as if COVID-19 was a figment of the world’s imagination. This casual segment is likely a victim of optimism bias. A majority of the population — about 80 per cent — exhibit optimism bias when they overestimate a positive outcome as compared to a negative one.
When individuals expect others to be ‘victim of misfortune’ but not their own self, they exhibit optimism bias. Optimism bias or unrealistic optimism causes one to behave irresponsibly. Like a drunk person hoping to drive back home safely.
Like an unrealistic optimist would ignore warnings on a cigarette packet, an individual exhibiting optimism bias may ignore to wear mask or follow social distancing norms. Optimism bias can hence be associated with diseases such as COVID-19, Ebola and cancer.
A victim of extreme optimism doesn’t know he is a victim. He is suffering from a cognitive illusion: While one can see the illusions of others, “he holds the illusion that he is immune to illusions”. We can see the extreme optimism biases of others but fail to see our own.
Emotion and cognition jointly contribute to this behaviour. Amygdala in the human brain processes emotions and judges the perception of the stimuli. Positive scenarios result with activation of amygdala and rostral anterior cingulate, which is involved in emotional regulation.
Inaccurate calibration to predict positive outcomes by these centers in the brain lead to unrealistic optimism. A few subtle psychological aspects also help identify the cause of optimism bias.
One of them is the perceived controllability over actions of self, which contributes to optimism bias. Washing hands, wearing masks, using sanitisers etc. was widely broadcast as means to avoid COVID-19. While this prompted responsible behaviour, it led several on the road to unrealistic optimism.
Lack of clear information and fake news floating on social media enhanced optimism bias. Conspiracy theories and fraudulent news confused people and increased susceptibility to this bias.
Doubts trigger cognitive illusions and we begin to believe in all-will-be-well scenarios. Unrealistic optimism also made people reluctant to get treated for COVID-19. protocols Not wearing masks or wearing it on the chin indicate optimism bias. It is also seen in the case of overcrowding of malls and tourist destinations as soon as lockdown is lifted.
Non-compliance of quarantine measures or running away from quarantine centres are other reported behaviours. The latter could also be because of paranoia or unrealistic pessimism. Unrealistic pessimism is currently evident in vaccine hesitancy. Fear of side effects is seen to be a major impediment in vaccine acceptance.
The way to go about in the new normal is to safeguard oneself from extreme pessimism or unrealistic optimism. It’s a difficult preposition, but being mildly pessimistic at worst with an attempt to move towards mild optimism at large can be our best bet.
Views expressed are the author's own and don't necessarily reflect those of Down To Earth
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