Many people feel life is more uncertain now. ETH Zurich researchers asked if we can change how people view uncertainty. They showed the test group a short presentation that presented uncertainty as an opportunity. The presentation used text, graphics and photos and included a passage from a Stanford speech by Steve Jobs.
The experiment took place in Germany between December 2024 and March 2025, around the February 2025 parliamentary elections. Participants were 18 to 80 years old and represented education, gender and income. The test group saw the slides once; both groups then answered the same questionnaires.
The results showed the test group had more positive views on diversity, more support for social change and were less likely to vote for AfD. The effect stayed for one month.
Difficult words
- uncertainty — the state of being unsure about something.uncertain, uncertain situations
- support — to help or agree with someone or something.
- diversity — the presence of different types of people or things.
- political — related to the government or public affairs.political views, right-wing populist parties
- influence — to have an effect on someone or something.
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How can changing our views on uncertainty influence society?
- Why do you think diversity is important?
- Can uncertainty be seen as a positive aspect in other areas of life?
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