An energizing role for motivation in information-seeking during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic

Yaniv Abir; Caroline B. Marvin; Camilla van Geen; Maya Leshkowitz; Ran R. Hassin; Daphna Shohamy

doi:10.1038/s41467-022-30011-5

Nature Communications (Apr 2022)

An energizing role for motivation in information-seeking during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic

Yaniv Abir,
Caroline B. Marvin,
Camilla van Geen,
Maya Leshkowitz,
Ran R. Hassin,
Daphna Shohamy

Affiliations

Yaniv Abir: Department of Psychology, Columbia University
Caroline B. Marvin: Department of Psychology, Columbia University
Camilla van Geen: Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University
Maya Leshkowitz: Department of Cognitive Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Ran R. Hassin: Department of Psychology and The Federmann Center for the Study of Rationality, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Daphna Shohamy: Department of Psychology, Columbia University

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-30011-5
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 13, no. 1
pp. 1 – 10

Abstract

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Information-seeking behavior in humans is often viewed as irrational rather than utility maximizing. Here the authors describe data obtained in Spring 2020 showing that participants’ concern about COVID-19 was related not only to their drive to seek information about the virus, but also to their curiosity about other more general topics.

Published in Nature Communications

ISSN: 2041-1723 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

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