Ignorance Shapes Our Beliefs and Opinions: A Critical Exposition of the Impact of Uncertainty on Decision-Making
In an age where information is more accessible than at any moment in history, it may seem surprising to some to reflect that ignorance still drives our opinions and beliefs.
To some extent, though, it does. Ignorance, whether willful or not, has profound implications for how we see the world, make decisions, and come to judgments.
This piece talks about how ignorance impacts the way we form beliefs and opinions, why it does that, and how it influences our personal and societal development.
A Definition of Ignorance
Before we go on to explain how ignorance has an impact on our opinions and beliefs, let us define what "ignorance" is.
Ignorance is a lack of knowledge, understanding, or information on something.
This ignorance could be due to lack of education, exposure to different points of view, or the refusal to acknowledge certain facts or realities. Ignorance could be active (a person willfully steering clear of information) or passive (a person simply unaware since they lack exposure to information).
But how does this ignorance shape how we think about the world?
The Role of Cognitive Biases
Humans are prone by nature to a whole range of cognitive biases, or ways of thinking that warp our perception of the way things really are.
These arise when we come across complex or emotionally laden information, and we make decisions based on partial information. I
gnorance powers much of these biases, and therefore they become deeper and more intense in the formation of beliefs.
For instance, confirmation bias is to favor information in favor of our preconceived notions.
Any time individuals are unaware of some subject matter, they will use and believe the information that conforms to their current ideas in favor of facts opposing it.
This becomes an echo chamber effect since it continues to have uninformed behavior and strengthen their opinions irrespective of their accuracy.
The Dunning-Kruger effect is another ignorance-related cognitive bias where people with little knowledge in a particular area overestimate their knowledge.
Ignorance makes people believe that they know more than they do, and this can lead to the formation of strong but erroneous opinions.
With information changing and evolving at such a rapid pace in the modern world, this overconfidence can be especially dangerous because it can lead to fixed beliefs based on misinformation.
The Power of the Information Gap
Information is abundant today, but it's not always reliable or easy to swallow.
The information gap—the difference between what we know and what we don't—can lead to huge misunderstandings and misconceptions.
When individuals lack sufficient information on a topic, they'll fill in the blanks with assumptions, stereotypes, or misinformation.
This "filling in the blanks" is particularly seen in fields such as politics, science, or international affairs. For example, individuals having no knowledge regarding climate change would probably be more susceptible to disinformation or exploitative arguments discounting the value of the issue.
Similarly, having no idea about history can make individuals believe inaccurate perceptions about the past and how this translates into existing political or social issues.
In addition, the quantity of information present today has at times become too much for individuals to handle to the extent that they will over-simplify issues that are difficult or rely on the convenient but incorrect sources. The din of the internet, social media, and the news tends to compel us into rushing decisions or conclusions even though these decisions may be based on incomplete or inaccurate information.
This is particularly problematic when used in the context of public health matters, such as vaccinations or diet, where misinformation can be harmful.
Ignorance and Social Identity
Ignorance also builds our thoughts and beliefs along social identity lines.
People have a preference towards groups that happen to have values, beliefs, and tastes the same as their own and who belong to the same social and cultural identity as them.
What this creates is an "ingroup" and "outgroup" effect where people are more favorable towards accepting thoughts and opinions from their social group even if not true or supported by evidence.
For example, political affiliation will tend to shape what sources of information we trust, what issues we care about, and what we think about those issues. In a culture where ignorance is the reality, people are more likely to take the side of the opinion of their favored group, whether educated or uneducated.
The desire to belong to a group can override the search for objective truth and lead to the perpetuation of subjective opinion and even rejection of information that is not in accord with group belief.
Additionally, people may not know about others' experiences, particularly regarding race, gender, and economic status. Ignorance leads to stereotypes and prejudice, which in turn affect discriminatory attitudes and opinions.
For instance, a person who has never been exposed to the plight of marginalized groups is likely to have prejudiced views regarding such groups.
This ignorance leads to harmful generalization and sustains inequality.
The Consequences of Ignorance on Society
The consequences of ignorance on our belief and opinion extend beyond the individual to the rest of society.
When large segments of the public are ignorant on significant issues—either through lack of education, misinformation, or ideological influence—society as a whole is worse off. Perhaps most dangerous of all is the ability of ignorance to fuel polarization and division. When people do not know the intricacies of an issue or misconceive, it becomes more convenient for radical ideologies to dominate.
This polarization is acutely visible in today's polarized politics, where disagreements often stem from fundamental misunderstandings or ignorance of opposing viewpoints.
Rather than engaging in thoughtful debate, people retreat into their echo chambers and have their current beliefs amplified.
This is the fertile ground for the proliferation of fake news, propaganda, and conspiracy theories, all of which flourish in areas of prevalent ignorance and misinformation.
The consequences of ignorance also arise at the level of public policy. If elected officials or the general public are not aware of issues of paramount significance, the policies they enact will probably address the less significant issues or even do harm.
For instance, in the field of public health, refusal to embrace scientific consensus on issues like vaccination can result in epidemics of preventable disease.
Similarly, ignorance about climate change can delay adopting policies essential to avoid its effects, i.e., long-term ecological damage.
Bridging Ignorance: The Way to Improved Understanding
So, how can we reduce the impact of ignorance on our views and convictions? Formal and informal education are the solution.
With education encouraging critical thinking, acceptance of new views, and flexibility in being exposed to new data, we are able to challenge the misinformation and biases brought by ignorance.
Getting exposed to a multitude of views and experiences is also a critical component in dislodging social identity and groupthink-generated walls.
It is also crucial to encourage media literacy and education in critically analyzing sources of information.
In today's world, where misinformation gets quickly circulated, it is particularly necessary to hone the skills for being able to distinguish fact from fiction.
That includes not only accessing information from trusted sources but questioning and procuring multiple opinions as well.
Ultimately, the more we are aware of our own ignorance and prejudice, the better we will be able to navigate the complex world about us.
Striving for knowledge, challenging assumptions, and engaging in open, respectful conversation,
we can build our opinions and beliefs out of facts and insight rather than ignorance.
Conclusion
Ignorance is a pivotal element in the development of our convictions and beliefs. By cognitive bias, gap in information, social identity, or the spreading of misinformation, ignorance leads us to make choices based on incomplete or inaccurate information.
This can have far-reaching consequences on people, societies, and the world at large. However, by encouraging education, critical thinking, and open-mindedness, we can surmount the limitations of ignorance and make more informed, well-thought-out decisions.
