Optimism Bias

This term- I learnt for the first time in my course. Most humans are positive that the worse case scenario won't happen to them no matter how pessimistic they are. That is the reason why people engage in dangerous activities and pick up habits that could be life-threatening; they think they will not be the unfortunate one who will die, who will get cancer, etc.

In helping people overcome addictions or in helping them lead a fulfilled life/less reckless life, counselors have to sometimes remove this optimism bias from people to let them know that "hey, this could possibly happen to you."

In the newspapers today, I came across two articles that displayed the dangers of optimism bias. One of them is this guy in the States who refused to listen to instructions to be evacuated from an area which would be affected by Hurricane Sandy. Though he remained safe, it was really thoughtless of him not to take the advice to move, both for the sale of the rescue team, his family members and himself. Why did he not move? He was sure that he would not be affected by Hurricane Sandy. Then another newspaper article was about this stoopid mum who put her two year old son on the railings of the wild dogs enclosure thinking that he wouldn't fall over. Within seconds, he did, and was mauled to death by 11 wild dogs. Sigh.

How to draw the line between being wise and being too safe? No time to think too much yet. Next post perhaps.
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