Published Aug 7, 2018

You 2.0: The Ostrich Effect

Explore the fascinating 'ostrich effect,' where individuals avoid vital but uncomfortable information, as Shankar Vedantam dissects studies on information aversion and fear's paradoxical impact on our health decisions.

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Dexa/Shankar Vedantam

You 2.0: The Ostrich Effect

Topics covered

Popular Clips

Ignorance is Bliss

Information Aversion

Testing for Stigma

Information Aversion

Information Aversion

Fear and Behavior

The Cost of Information

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Testing Information Aversion

Information Aversion

Fear and Behavior

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You 2.0: The Ostrich Effect

Topics covered

Popular Clips

Episode Highlights

Testing Information AversionThe Envelope Experiment and STDs Study reveal our preference for pleasant information and aversion to unpleasant truths. These studies highlight how emotional states can influence our willingness to seek or avoid information, even when it impacts our health.

Testing Information Aversion

Information Aversion

Fear and BehaviorThe episode explores how fear influences behavior, particularly in health-related decisions. It examines the limitations of fear as a motivator for long-term actions and its role in information aversion.

Fear and Behavior

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