Publish at March 16 2022 Updated March 18 2022
We live in an era made difficult for personal balance. We are presented with an era of uncertainty, but with a full fridge. At the time of writing, the Russian-Ukrainian conflict is in full swing without knowing if it will become global. We are also at the end of a pandemic caused by an endemic and changing virus. Meanwhile, the climate crisis is accelerating, leaving many people with fears for the future of humanity.
The last few years have strained our resistance to uncertainty. Humans are already allergic to it because they prefer to react to danger immediately. Indeed, psychology studies have shown that intolerance to uncertainty is very strong. For example, in one experiment, researchers were testing the stress levels of candidates in a situation where they could receive small electrical shocks. One group was sure to be shocked every time, while the other was only shocked 50% of the time. However, the latter were much more stressed than the former. In another experiment, participants were given chances to win small amounts of money on the basis of randomized trials. They were given the choice of knowing the outcome immediately or waiting a few seconds. Knowing the outcome immediately came with a penalty: the chances of winning were lower and the prize would be smaller. Yet only 37% of people decided to wait every time.
A situation like covid was difficult for many learners. Some students were afraid to return to school in the presence of the risks of contracting the disease (especially those with an existing medical condition). Others, on the other hand, were terrified that they would never return and would have to do all of their schooling remotely. The confinements took a toll on students who saw their educational pursuits have to be done from home, many lost their jobs temporarily and were left with financial concerns. Not to mention personal or internship projects that have been cancelled by the pandemic.
It is no wonder in this context where the end of the crisis did not seem to be coming, even with vaccination, that anxiety levels have continued to rise. We are exposed toconstant uncertainty that has literally worn us down. Hence the more frequent cognitive errors and an accentuated ease of falling into conspiracy theories.
The issue of tolerance for uncertainty did not begin with Sars-Cov-2. Settings such as medical schools were already addressing this issue before the crisis. After all, the medical profession comes with occasional questions, some things to be clarified and decisions to be made about patient communication. So, through simulations, students experience situations where they will have to test this life skill.
Of course, everyone can distract themselves in an attempt to keep those thoughts at bay. A reflex that in no way removes the worry that will return as soon as the movie, housework or work is over. In fact, is it even possible to get rid of this anxiety? Instead, most experts suggest learning to tolerate this feeling. For them, the important thing is to focus on the present moment, have coping strategies, and adjust one's exposure to the news to both inform oneself but within a defined time frame.
In the child, he or she should be given the opportunity to recognize his or her stress and analyze it. Afterwards, it will be possible to teach him different techniques to manage the physical symptoms such as muscle relaxation or cardiac coherence. The cognitive qualities issue plays greatly in preparing for uncertainties.
It is advisable to develop one's general culture and engage in contemplation whether it be walking in the woods or meditating. Acceptance also often comes through letting go and mindfulness which forces one to focus on the present moment. Changing routines also allows the brain to prepare for the unexpected without suffering too much.
In fact, on this point, the teacher can help learners. This can be by changing the learning context from time to time (outside, hybrid, etc.). Bringing in questions with multiple perspectives, challenging conventional wisdom, and introducing less "black and white" problems will force students to question their worldviews. Teamwork and collaborative tasks can be a good way to think through these types of questions together and share how they manage their anxiety, their view of uncertainty.
Photo : geralt on Pixabay
References:
Andersen, Erin. "Our Brains Don't Like Uncertainty, but Research Offers Clues for How to Cope." The Globe and Mail. Last updated: December 6, 2021. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-our-brains-dont-like-uncertainty-but-research-offers-clues-for-how-to/.
El Hadj Said, Kenza. "How The Health Crisis Affects Students' Mental Health." The Conversation. Last updated September 15, 2021. https://theconversation.com/comment-la-crise-sanitaire-affecte-la-sante-mentale-des-etudiants-163843.
"Coping With Uncertainty Related To The Pandemic." CSF Benevolence. Accessed March 10, 2022. https://bienveillance.csf.bc.ca/faire-face-a-lincertitude-liee-a-la-pandemie/.
Grou, Christine. "COVID-19: When Our Brains See A Tsunami." La Presse+. Last updated: January 7, 2022. https://plus.lapresse.ca/screens/7d91b94a-4cf4-4e4c-9a1e-b5b70f5027a7__7C___0.html.
Grou, Christine. "Tolerating Uncertainty: A Survival Guide." Le Journal De Montreal. Last updated: May 17, 2020. https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2020/05/17/tolerer-lincertitude-guide-de-survie.
"L'enfant Anxieux: Quelques Trucs Pour L'aider." High Voltage. Last updated November 15, 2021. https://lahautevoltige.ca/2021/06/03/enfant-anxieux-quelques-trucs-pour-aider/.
Menker, Carly. "Many Students Feel Heightening Rates of Back-to-school Anxiety and Uncertainty." Medill Reports Chicago. Last updated: August 20, 2021. https://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/many-students-feel-heightening-rates-of-back-to-school-anxiety-and-uncertainty/.
Robson, David. "Why We're So Terrified of the Unknown." BBC. Last updated October 26, 2021. https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20211022-why-were-so-terrified-of-the-unknown.
Travers, Mark. "Risk Aversion And Uncertainty Tolerance Can Explain Covid-19 Fear Levels, According To A New Study." Forbes. Last updated: September 1, 2021. https://www.forbes.com/sites/traversmark/2021/09/01/risk-aversion-and-uncertainty-tolerance-can-explain-covid-19-fear-levels-according-to-a-new-study/?sh=59cee3e22cdc.
Vallat, Philippe. "And Where Is Your Cognitive Immunity?" Thinking And Acting In A Complex World. Last updated June 3, 2021. https://blogs.letemps.ch/philippe-vallat/2021/06/03/et-ou-en-est-votre-immunite-cognitive/.
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