297 - The Arithmetic of Compassion: How Psychology and Literature Help Explain the Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

There are psychological and cognitive obstacles to compassion, especially against an invisible virus. Dr. Paul Slovic, a psychology professor at the University of Oregon, and his son Dr. Scott Slovic, a literature professor at the University of Idaho talk with guest host Dr. Colleen Barry about the psychic numbing that occurs when considering large-scale crisis like genocide, climate change, and COVID-19. They also discuss pandemic literature and what it's like to work together as father and son from two seemingly different disciplines. KEYWORDS: risk perception; policy; community mental health