Normalcy Bias

Normalcy bias, also called normality bias, is the tendency to underestimate the likelihood or severity of a disaster and to assume that life will continue to function normally, leading people to under-prepare for and respond too slowly to emergencies such as natural disasters, fires or other crises. The bias has been studied by disaster researchers examining behavior during events including building fires, hurricanes and terrorist attacks, where survivors and witnesses often report an initial period of disbelief, delay or continuation of routine activity before recognizing the seriousness of the unfolding situation. Emergency preparedness and evacuation research treats overcoming normalcy bias, through clear and repeated warnings, as an important factor in reducing casualties during sudden-onset disasters.