There’s a new acronym every day, but unlike its cousin FOMO, or the fear of missing out,FOFOis the exact opposite.It’s the fear of finding out about something. There’s a new acronym every day, but unlike its cousin FOMO, or the fear of missing out,FOFOis the exact opposite. It’s the letter from SARS that you left on the dressing table, the blood test results that you never took to the doctor or the discussion with your partner that’s been postponed for weeks.
We are all guilty as charged and, according to a study by mental health journal Psychology Today, it’s not an uncommon pattern of behaviour. People avoid learning about information because they are concerned that reality will bring discomfort, a change they don’t want, or a responsibility they must answer to. Medical doctor and psychologist Dr Jonathan Redelinghuys said that nothing feels easier than not knowing for a minute, even when reality dictates otherwise.
“FOFO works like a temporary pause,” he said. “By not checking, asking or confronting, people buy themselves a few hours or days before reality comes knocking. That pause brings brief relief, but the problem does not shrink during that time; instead, it grows.” He added that it is a common pattern in emotional avoidance.
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“People really believe that delaying the truth will soften the impact,” he said. “But what usually happens is that the delay makes the situation feel far bigger than it needs to be.” Research suggests that FOFO first emerged in healthcare. Patients postponed screenings or avoided test results because they feared bad news.
The same behaviour has since been identified in relationships, personal finances, and the workplace, according to research by psychologist Justin Bariso. He also wrote that leaders in companies may avoid performance reports because they fear what the numbers will reveal.
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