Why human brains are bad at assessing the risks of pandemics?

We have been facing enormous challenges since March 2020, and with that, we submerged in the deep waters of our soul. For me, it has been a period to rediscover myself and the world. During this exploration, I found one article from Lia Kvatum for The Washington Post journal that explores human brain & risk assessment. That article helped me understand and accept that each one of us has unique ways of thinking and facing challenges. For me, it brought me peace and make me want to share with you new ways to envisage and understanding challenges that will resonate at least with some of you – who loves the fashion x medicine point of view. In this context, the series Expand with Curio is now live here at d’Oliveira fashion.

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These images from Portugal Fashion Week Fall-Winter 1920 are from the period pre-COVID-19. But, they are a great example for us to start understanding this problematic of risk assessment in our COVID-19 era.
The images can represent a misuse of what could be the so-called mask. Yes, I am sure you – as for me – have seen people wearing the mask in the chin or not covering the nose or even, just use a piece of clothing not certified to protect from COVID-19. Well, these people have a different approach when it comes to risk!

But, why so? Are these bad people? Uninformed people? Or good people just like us?

The short answer is – we are different people, with different experiences in different contexts with unique brains.

We perceive risk through two types of thinking: intuitive and deliberative.

Intuitive thinking is thinking without thinking. It is, for example, buy by impulse a piece of clothing without thinking about the consequences. Another example is how we immediately are repelled by certain clothing. Well, it is our first natural reaction. This type of thinking is rooted in the evolutionary need to survive.

Deliberative thinking is the most conscientious and effortful way of thinking. Here, we reflect on the reasons and ways available to achieve an outcome. For example, I want to buy a fashionable eco-friendly mask that at the same time keeps me and others around me safer. Also, in this type of thinking, stand the actions that we don’t like, but we perform because the outcome is better for our health. Therefore, we can see that we need a feeling that motivates us to perform some activity. Because of that, we now know that knowledge alone is not enough to motivate. So, even when we hear that thousands have died of COVID-19, that doesn’t touch us personally, especially if we don’t know anyone close to us who has died or became infected by COVID-19. Besides that, information alone can lead in the opposite direction too, because everyone has a different way to respond to a situation. Many of us can face the challenge while others might feel safer when pretending that nothing is happening.

Risk assessment is highly individually!

Brains area and pathways activated by a situation vary from person to person, and so differ our risk perception. Therefore, it is a subjective question.
Another important factor is our community or people that surround us. The social groups play a huge role in how we perceive information. What we believe connects us! Therefore, it is crucial to understand those communities and their values. Just like that, we can act effectively in COVID-19 prevention.

In that conjuncture doesn’t help our human inability to think too far in the future. People don’t doing that increase the chances of misunderstanding treats.

So, what is the solution?

There is no magic bullets as it is said on the article. But, I feel that we need actions and information that touch the individuality of each one of us! To do it so, we need more understand between humans and acceptance of divergent values. When we accept that each one of us are different, that will be the changing point in this situation. Because, we will be able to give love & that will generate more love. As result, hopefully a new common value and conscience will rise and stay while giving life to the universal and planetary community. All as one.

I hope you enjoying my thoughts about the article that I listened at Curio App. If you like to hear the integral article for free click here and use my code.

❤ Luís de Oliveira
d’Oliveira fashion doctor

PHOTOS
CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER | Luís de Oliveira
PHOTOGRAPHER | Mariana Valdoleiros
PORTUGAL FASHION WEEK FW 1920

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