Ignorance is Bliss: Study Shows People Avoid Information About Complex Social Issues [1]

The less people know about important complex issues such as the economy, energy consumption and the environment, the more they want to avoid becoming well-informed, according to new research published by the American Psychological Association.

And the more urgent the issue, the more people want to remain unaware, according to a paper published online in APA’s Journal of Personality and Social Psychology [2].

“These studies were designed to help understand the so-called ‘ignorance is bliss’ approach to social issues [3],” said author Steven Shepherd, a graduate student with the University of Waterloo in Ontario. “The findings can assist educators in addressing significant barriers to getting people involved and engaged in social issues.”