Avoiding versus seeking: the relationship of information seeking to avoidance, blunting, coping, dissonance, and related concepts.

TLDR

Psychological theory assumes active information seeking, yet studies show that individuals often avoid uncomfortable information—especially about cancer and genetic testing—making avoidance a key area for social and psychological research. The study investigates how theorists and empirical researchers have addressed the human tendency to avoid discomforting information. The authors conducted a historical review of communication and information literature from 1890 to 2004 and performed systematic database searches (MEDLINE, PsychInfo, CINAHL) on genetic screening, decision making, and coping strategies in cancer patients. Findings indicate that people tend to avoid information that would cause mental discomfort or dissonance, underscoring the importance of studying avoidance behavior in contexts such as genetic testing.

Abstract

How have theorists and empirical researchers treated the human tendency to avoid discomforting information?A historical review (1890-2004) of theory literature in communication and information studies, coupled with searches of recent studies on uptake of genetic testing and on coping strategies of cancer patients, was performed.The authors' review of the recent literature included searches of the MEDLINE, PsychInfo, and CINAHL databases between 1992 and summer of 2004 and selective, manual searches of earlier literature. Search strategies included the following subject headings and key words: MeSH headings: Genetic Screening/psychology, Decision Making, Neoplasms/diagnosis/genetics/psychology; CINAHL headings: Genetic Screening, Genetic Counseling, Anxiety, Decision Making, Decision Making/Patient; additional key words: avoidance, worry, monitoring, blunting, cancer. The "Related Articles" function in MEDLINE was used to perform additional "citation pearl" searching.The assumption that individuals actively seek information underlies much of psychological theory and communication practice, as well as most models of the information-seeking process. However, much research has also noted that sometimes people avoid information, if paying attention to it will cause mental discomfort or dissonance. Cancer information in general and genetic screening for cancer in particular are discussed as examples to illustrate this pattern.That some patients avoid knowledge of imminent disease makes avoidance behavior an important area for social and psychological research, particularly with regard to genetic testing.