Better Safe Than Sorry

Episode 15 February 04, 2020 00:18:52
Better Safe Than Sorry
The Reflecting Pool
Better Safe Than Sorry

Feb 04 2020 | 00:18:52

/

Show Notes

Why does the click-through rate on threatening headlines far exceed those that are more benign?  Calling something a threat through a provocative headline or soundbite initiates a biological reaction that almost compels a person to find out more, but why is that?  Multnomah County, OR Chief Operating Officer Marissa Madrigal (Masters 1605/1606 aka 1611) explores how the process of securitization (declaring something is an external threat) initiates a neurobiological process that often causes people to adopt a ‘better safe than sorry’ posture when deciding what actions to take in response to the perceived threat.  Her research found evidence that this behavior is having an impact on homeland security-related decisions by creating a bias toward compulsive precautionary behavior rather than clear-minded cognitive reassessment and that our predictable behavior can be used against us.

Other Episodes

Episode 11

February 07, 2019 00:25:44
Episode Cover

Unbounded Risk

Providing perfect security in an era of unbounded risk is impossible. In my interview with Jack Anderson (Masters 1401), we talk about caribou scapula...

Listen

Episode 1

September 30, 2015 00:10:18
Episode Cover

Issue Attention Cycle

In this inaugural Reflecting Pool podcast, host Bijan Karimi talks to USCG Lt. Chris Kimrey (CHDS Master’s cohort 1402) about how emerging problems often...

Listen

Episode 9

July 24, 2018 00:21:48
Episode Cover

Anti-Intellectualism and the Search for Truth

We live in a world where information is abundant. But in our search for truth we must be careful. Without carefully curating the quality...

Listen