Cass R. Sunstein, Columnist

The Cognitive Bias That Makes Us Panic About Coronavirus

Feeling anxious? Blame "probability neglect."

February 28, 2020 at 6:09 PM UTC

Cass R. Sunstein is a former Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is the author of “The Cost-Benefit Revolution” and a co-author of “Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth and Happiness.”

From Rome to Milan, taking no chances.
Photographer: Marco Di Lauro/Getty Images

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At this stage, no one can specify the magnitude of the threat from the coronavirus. But one thing is clear: A lot of people are more scared than they have any reason to be. They have an exaggerated sense of their own personal risk.

How come?