https://twitter.com/JenniferLerner1/status/1698400322258104492
Just got to the part of Let This Radicalize You where they detail different responses to "major health threats" as outlined in The Psychology of Pandemics by Steven Taylor. Some ppl are "monitors", who seek out info "to cope with uncertainty."
"Meanwhile, others are prone to what's known as "blunting" behavior, which involves 'the distraction from, and minimizing of threatening information.'"
"Still others exhibit what's known as "unrealistic optimism bias," characterized by the belief that they are more likely than others to evade harm and experience positive outcomes."
[more on optimism bias]
"Research has shown that monitors are responsive to emotional appeals as well as detailed info abt risk factors & harm reduction strategies, whereas blunters are likely to avoid such messaging; for them, simple, logical messaging is likely most effective."
"Understanding these different reactions is essential to effective messaging and highlights the importance of taking multiple approaches in our organizing."
This thread is really putting into words that I think a major problem with communicating w/ loved ones who are "back to normal" wrt COVID is that many of us are using monitor messaging for folks who are more likely than not blunters.
