The Paradox of Progress: Why We Forget What WorksIn this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston digs into the 'Paradox of Progress,' a psychological phenomenon explaining why society and individuals often dismantle the systems that made their successes possible. The episode explores this paradox in various realms including public health, civil rights, economics, and climate policy. The discussion reveals how our brains' tendency to forget problems once they are resolved leads to cyclical issues, like the resurgence of diseases or the rollback of civil protections. It emphasizes the importance of active memory and systemic maintenance to prevent the recurrence of past mistakes and underscores the universal challenge of sustaining progress.00:00 Introduction to the Paradox of Progress01:18 The Measles Comeback: A Case Study03:55 Civil Rights and the Illusion of Finality06:41 Economic Amnesia: The 2008 Financial Crisis15:43 The Environmental Protection Challenge18:37 The Psychology Behind Forgetting Success20:28 Personal Reflection and ConclusionVOTE FOR PSYBERSPACE THIS MONTH! I'm nominated for a Women in Podcasting award! Voting is open during the month of May - I'd love your support. Note: You don't have to vote for every category, just look for PsyberSpace in Science Podcasts at this link https://www.womenpodcasters.com/awards-voting?sc=27127076032d7fd70ddcab921ce8652fb78353d03ResearchAndersson, O., Campos-Mercade, P., Meier, A., & Wengström, E. (2020). Anticipation of COVID-19 vaccines reduces willingness to socially distance. Journal of Health Economics, 75, 102406.Bonilla-Silva, E. (2017). Racism without racists: Color-blind racism and the persistence of racial inequality in America (5th ed.). Rowman & Littlefield.Castel, A. D., & Rhodes, M. G. (2020). The role of memory confidence and overconfidence in cognitive aging. In The Wiley Encyclopedia of Health Psychology (pp. 287-294). Wiley.Kruger, D. J., Fernandes, H. B. F., Cupal, S., & Homish, G. G. (2019). Life history variation and the preparedness paradox. Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences.Lifchits, G., Saucet, M., & Propose, J. (2021). Success narratives and attribution errors in organizational settings. Applied Psychology Review, 43(2), 156-172.Loužek, M. (2021). Negativity bias and its impact on risk perception in modern society. European Journal of Social Psychology, 51(4), 678-691.Luz, P. M., Nadanovsky, P., & Leask, J. (2020). Cognitive biases and vaccination decisions: A systematic review. Vaccine, 38(21), 3743-3751.Meyer, R., & Kunreuther, H. (2017). The Ostrich Paradox: Why We Underprepare for Disasters. Wharton School PressO'Brien, L. T. (2022). Incremental versus categorical change: Public perception and policy implications. Journal of Social Issues, 78(3), 445-462.O'Reilly, C. A., & Hall, D. T. (2020). Grandiose narcissism, decision making, and leadership effectiveness. Leadership Quarterly, 31(4), 101-117.Weber, E. U. (2006). Experience-based and description-based perceptions of long-term risk: Why global warming does not scare us (yet). Climatic Change, 77(1-2), 103-120. ★ Support this podcast ★