Infectious diseases have been some of humanity's biggest killers. Fortunately, we possess an evolved psychology of pathogen avoidance - a system of mental mechanisms that help us identify, track, and respond to such dangers, thereby reducing risks of infection. Unfortunately, this system is imperfect - we mistake which information is diagnostic, leading to faulty assumptions, pernicious attitudes, and bad decisions. I will review recent work in our lab focusing on how we conceptualize pathogen threats and consequences of this process. Additionally, I will discuss when our understanding of pathogen avoidance psychology can inform explanations of pandemic behavior, and more importantly, why it might not.

Zoom link: https://umich.zoom.us/j/96257205534
Meeting ID: 962 5720 5534
Password: cogsci