Researchers found that patients newly diagnosed with prostate cancer tend to opt for invasive surgery, even when it’s unlikely to be curative, instead of a more conservative approach.
This is driven by a “hot” state of fear, as they haven’t had time to fully process the diagnosis.
Their preferences are likely to shift once momentary distress subsides.
We struggle to empathize with our future selves, making it hard to predict how we’ll behave in emotional states different from our current one.
See the full study here :
Loewenstein, G. (2005). Hot-Cold Empathy Gaps and Medical Decision Making. Health Psychology, 24(4), 49-56. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/0278-6133.24.4.S49
Join our mailing list to be the first to know about our upcoming events and workshops
Copyright © 2023 BVA Nudge Consulting by Ipsos – All rights reserved
