How People Cope With a Lack of Understanding, Article Review Example

Introduction

This study aimed to understand how people cope with a lack of understanding or knowledge pertaining to information that is an inherent component of social issues. The two ways that people commonly react to this phenomenon is either by ignoring the situation or by conducting research in order to gain comprehension. The authors propose that in a majority of cases, a lack of knowledge concerning these topics will result in feelings of enhanced dependence on the government, increase trust towards the government, and promote ignorance of these issues.

Results

This paper is a compilation of five studies that test the validity of the aforementioned hypothesis. The first study aimed to determine whether the unknowledgeable tend to trust the knowledgeable in a particular domain. Participants were given complex and simple explanations concerning the energy field, and it was found those presented with a more complex understanding were more likely to trust their government about their knowledge in the area than those provided with a simple explanation. The second study found that those provided with a complex description of an energy source felt less knowledgeable than those provided with a simple description. The third study found that individuals were more likely to avoid complex issues when they are of immediate importance, and individuals were more likely to avoid an issue if it was seen as complex. The fourth study demonstrated that people tend to generally avoid negative articles, unless these articles pertain specifically to their situation. The fifth study indicated that people can be manipulated based on the way that information is presented to them. More complex information will make people trust authorities in the area more greatly, and issues that are presented negatively will result in avoidance. Therefore, messages can be tailored by politicians to create a calculated reaction from people, allowing them to trust certain groups while mistrusting others.