Posted: February 25th, 2017

Why is it so hard to tolerate uncertainty?

Why is it so hard to tolerate uncertainty? By now you’ve taken a number of courses in psychology and in other subjects.  Thinking broadly, what makes uncertainty so difficult to handle?  Why do we need to know how the story turns out; can’t we just enjoy the journey without knowing the precise destination?  Can you think of specific instances in your life where you tolerated high levels of uncertainty well?  Can you think of a situation (or two) where you did not handle high levels of uncertainty so well?  What were the key differences between those situations, and what can you learn from studying your own reactions to uncertainty?