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As the 'new normal' settles in, it’s easy to become complacent. How can we stay vigilant with essential public health measures like hand-washing, physical distancing, and wearing masks? These actions are still vital, yet familiarity with them might lead to neglect, which could have serious consequences.
Our ability to maintain these important behaviors may depend on recognizing and addressing the cognitive biases that influence us—and knowing how to counter them.
A recent study published in The Lancet highlights eight cognitive pitfalls that can lead to risky health behaviors. According to physician-researcher Donald A Redelmeier and behavioral scientist Eldar Shafir, the prolonged duration of the COVID-19 pandemic might cause some to mistakenly believe the worst is behind us, which is far from the truth.
On the flip side, some of us may become so consumed with the threat of the coronavirus that we overlook other physical and mental health dangers, such as the lasting effects of isolation or the risks associated with improper exercise techniques and equipment.
Redelmeier and Shafir developed a chart outlining each of the eight cognitive pitfalls, along with strategies to mitigate the impact of these biases on our decisions and actions.
Dana Rose Garfin, a faculty member at the Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing (University of California-Irvine), supports Redelmeier and Shafir’s findings. 'My colleagues and I are currently conducting several studies on these issues,' Garfin shared with me.
As the COVID-19 pandemic feels less novel, Garfin points out that we may start to relax the safety measures we committed to weeks ago, even though these behaviors are essential to protecting ourselves and those around us. When self-isolation proves effective, for instance, it often leads people to question why it's still necessary. 'This creates agitation in the community,' Garfin notes. 'People begin saying, we don’t need to be doing this.'
The Lancet’s chart misses an important cognitive bias: confirmation bias. This is our tendency to seek out information that aligns with our existing beliefs. 'People focus on information that reinforces what they already think,' explains Garfin. For instance, if someone has strong opinions about how the coronavirus spreads, herd immunity, or national reopening strategies, they’re likely to find articles or social media posts that back up their views—often without questioning the credibility of the sources.
Even well-researched, factual information that disproves a deeply held belief can fail to change someone’s mind. 'It’s a curious phenomenon,' says Garfin. 'Contradictory information can actually strengthen their belief in whatever they already think.'
So, what does this mean for us, now that we're in the seventh week of self-isolation and physical distancing? We can’t let our guard down just yet. It’s still crucial to maintain isolation, limit unnecessary trips, keep six feet apart from people outside our households, wear masks in public, and wash our hands regularly. However, we also shouldn’t be so focused on avoiding COVID-19 that we ignore other health risks. (As Redelmeier and Shafir remind us, we don’t want to end up in the hospital for any reason right now.)
In essence, we mustn’t treat our 'new normal' as though it’s truly 'normal.'
