03 November, 2015

Understanding risk, accepting climate change


“T
here’s a bad flu going around this year… but I’m healthy enough to not have to worry.”

“Speed is the biggest contributor to fatal road accidents… but I’m a good driver and can handle the conditions.”

“Yes, climate change is happening… but it won’t affect me.”

Sound familiar? These statements are what’s known as an ‘optimism bias’ – a cognitive bias that causes people to believe that they are at less risk of experiencing a negative event compared to others.

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