Emotion makes people defy danger

After the fires destroyed so many homes in California, you might wonder why people decided to live in flammable dry hills in southern California. Meanwhile, Californians wondered why anyone would choose to live on the Florida coast every year.

The answer may be simple: We are emotional people and easily ignore the dangers once the heart is for something.

" It is possible that people living in woody forests in California are more concerned about the things they love about their place, like the environment, the air, so at the same time ignore the threat of forest fires "Jacqueline Meszaros, director of the US National Academy of Sciences, said.

Everyone has a choice about risk. And researchers in different buildings have found people associated with its dangers and benefits with emotional values . If a person likes an activity, they will underestimate the risk. For example, that beautiful ship will not be hit by storms, this beautiful wooden house will not be burned.

If anyone doesn't like an activity, they raise the danger for it. For example, someone who is afraid of flying will think that it is very dangerous, while actually flying a plane is much safer than going to a car.

"The interesting thing about this research is that we find emotions that can explain a lot of surprises about people," Meszaros said. "The facts are not enough to change the perceptions of the peril of each person."

MT