When Knowledge Is Blinding: Knowing the Future Fosters Ignorance of Facts about COVID-19 and Risky Health Behaviors

Three studies (Ntotal = 887) showed that knowing the future (vs. believing with less certainty) during the COVID-19 pandemic predicted ignorance of expert information about the pandemic (Studies 1 and 2) and engagement in risky health behaviors (Study 3). We discuss potential ways to regulate this dangerous shortcut to knowledge.