Time to Act! Means of Reducing Positive Illusions

Abstract

AbstractSince it is clear that biased perceptions of great global health risks are harmful, we now turn your attention to tested methods of possible reduction of these biased perceptions. This chapter offers – on the one hand – a promise that it is possible: people may become more realistic, making their health more preventable in future pandemics. Unfortunately, on the other hand, this chapter also outlines some failures in reaching this goal: we present mechanisms that should make us more reasonable when facing COVID-19’s global and deadly consequences but ultimately failed to do so.This chapter addresses several goals. Firstly, it invites more researchers to explore promising mechanisms in illusion reduction. Secondly, it highlights the first tools to be used by public health experts and policy-makers interested in curbing ongoing COVID-19 and future pandemics.