I’m not great at keeping track of my finances. Often, I’ll let my bank balance go unchecked for weeks, even months, convincing myself that I’ll take a look in a few days. The longer I postpone it, the more anxious I become. When weeks pass, and I know my funds are dwindling, the thought of logging in to see my dwindling balance—or worse, that I’m overdrawn—makes me feel uneasy. Honestly, I prefer to stay in the dark. Ignorance feels easier.
Many of us have been there: consciously avoiding something we anticipate will deliver bad news. Perhaps you’ve delayed visiting the doctor for troubling symptoms out of fear they may indicate a serious condition. You might also avoid crucial discussions with your partner because you dread discovering they’re unhappy. Or, like me, you might think that if you simply postpone weighing yourself after the holiday season, those extra pounds will somehow vanish.
Understanding the Psychology of Information Avoidance
A substantial body of research explores this tendency, termed information avoidance, revealing that we are remarkably skilled at steering clear of bad news. Studies indicate that people often evade various types of information, even when knowing it could ultimately benefit them. For example, many choose not to learn about their risks for certain diseases, despite the potential for early intervention. After making decisions, individuals tend to gravitate toward information that aligns with those decisions. A comprehensive review of “selective exposure” revealed that individuals are nearly twice as likely to choose to engage with information that confirms their beliefs over information that challenges them.
James Carter, a psychology professor at a leading university studying this phenomenon, identifies three primary reasons we might sidestep potentially unwanted information:
- Cognitive Dissonance: It can challenge our beliefs. Realizing that a long-held belief is incorrect, especially if it’s integral to our identity, is uncomfortable. Changing our views requires effort, and it’s often simpler to stick with what we know. Encountering information that validates our beliefs feels pleasant.
- Fear of Action: It may compel us to take action we’d rather avoid. Discovering that a persistent toothache necessitates a root canal is daunting—not to mention costly and painful. Living in uncertainty, where the toothache might be trivial, often seems more appealing.
- Emotional Distress: We tend to shun information that could upset us. Stepping on the scale and seeing weight gain isn’t exactly uplifting.
The Value of Facing Reality
It’s understandable to avoid unpleasant truths. The prospect of learning about a serious health risk, making a poor choice, or facing the reality of a long-held misbelief is hardly appealing. However, this mindset often fixates on short-term relief. In the long run, ignoring a potential health issue only exacerbates the problem. If my toothache signifies a deeper issue, delaying a diagnosis will lead to increased pain and possible complications. While discovering I need a root canal might be immediately distressing, it allows me to address the problem sooner rather than later.
Ignoring weight gain doesn’t alter reality. Most of the time, aligning our beliefs with reality benefits us, empowering us to initiate positive changes—whether it’s shedding those extra pounds or seeking necessary medical care.
However, there are instances when ignorance might be preferable. If you cannot change a situation, knowing the truth may not enhance your life, particularly if it’s deeply unpleasant. For example, learning whether an ex-partner cheated may not be relevant to your current life. Yet, the scenarios where ignorance truly benefits us are actually quite limited.
Overcoming Information Avoidance
Recognizing that it’s generally advantageous to know the truth is one thing; acting on it is another. How can you motivate yourself to check your bank balance, step on the scale, or book that doctor’s appointment? How can you avoid the pitfalls of information avoidance?
Professor Carter and his team have sought to answer this question. In a recent study, they discovered that participants were more willing to learn about their risk for a particular disease after completing a “contemplation” exercise, which involved reflecting on the long-term implications of knowledge. This intervention encourages a shift from the immediate, emotional reaction of, “Finding out I’m at high risk sounds dreadful!” to a more rational consideration of, “Ultimately, knowing would allow me to reduce that risk.”
Next time you find yourself dodging your bank statement or avoiding the scale, take a moment for contemplation. Are you genuinely better off remaining uninformed? Or could you be complicating your life in the long run?
Creating a pros and cons table can clarify the benefits of knowing versus remaining in the dark. It becomes evident that avoiding my bank balance yields little benefit. While it may spare me some anxiety today, that anxiety will resurface eventually, likely amplified. On the contrary, checking it now allows me to make informed decisions about my finances—and who knows, it might not be as dire as I fear!
Facing the truth can indeed be uncomfortable, but it’s also invaluable. Acknowledging reality equips us to tackle challenges more effectively. As Aldous Huxley aptly noted: “Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.”
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Summary:
In life, avoiding bad news can seem easier, but ultimately, confronting reality leads to better long-term outcomes. Understanding the psychology behind information avoidance helps us realize the importance of facing our fears, whether they relate to finances, health, or personal matters. Engaging with the truth allows us to take necessary steps toward improvement, rather than letting anxiety fester.