Trying to control information often backfires

Summary

• When we try to control information, people are often motivated to find out more.

Details

• If they succeed in finding it, they will pay more attention than they would have otherwise

References

• The Great Mental Models Volume 2 - Physics, Chemistry and Biology

Quotes

Creating greater viscosity for information flow may seem like a way to control people and protect them from difficult information, but it easily backfires. If people get an inkling something is hidden from them, they’ll push as hard as possible to find it. If they succeed, they’ll pay far more attention to it than they would have done otherwise. The negative consequences that result from a lack of information sharing in situations like Chernobyl often undermine the control that a government was trying to exert in the first place.

Related

• Magic is about controlling attention and focus
• Information can be a distraction - Barack Obama
• Share information with fellow workers as Jesus did with the disciples
• Dont let information assymetry intimidate you
• Wealth of information creates poverty of attention - Herbert Simon