The Ostrich Effect: Choosing Ignorance
Golman, Hagmann & Loewenstein (2017) documented a paradox: people actively avoid free, useful information. Investors don't check portfolios when markets crash. 7% of people would pay $10 to NOT learn their herpes status. We'd rather not know.
🙈 THE PARADOX: In an "information age," we deliberately choose ignorance— even when knowledge is free, available, and would help us make better decisions.
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"If I don't look at my portfolio, it didn't really go down..."
Investors check portfolios less when markets are down. The "ostrich effect" preserves optimism at the cost of timely action.
People avoid genetic tests, STD results, and follow-up appointments. 12% would pay $10 to not know their HSV-2 status.
Employees avoid negative reviews. Managers avoid data contradicting their decisions. Researchers avoid papers refuting their work.
Selective exposure to agreeable news creates filter bubbles. We avoid facts that challenge our worldview.