The more who die, the less we care: psychic numbing and genocide

摘要: A defining element of catastrophes is the magnitude their harmful consequences. To help society prevent or mitigate damage from catastrophes, immense effort and technological sophistication are often employed to assess communicate size scope potential actual losses. This assumes that people can understand resulting numbers act on them appropriately. However, recent behavioural research casts doubt this fundamental assumption. Many do not large numbers. Indeed, have been found lack meaning be underweighted in decisions unless they convey affect (feeling). As a result, there paradox rational models decision-making fail represent. On one hand, we respond strongly aid single individual need. other mass tragedies – such as genocide take appropriate measures reduce losses natural disasters. might seem irrational but think occurs, part, because get larger larger, become insensitive; trigger emotion feeling necessary motivate action.