Imagine that after getting ready for your day this morning you ventured into your kitchen and discovered that a red button had mysteriously manifested out of seemingly nowhere. Would you have pressed it to see what would’ve happen? What might have been the implications of having done so?
Not unlike the thought exercise I addressed in a blogpost entitled Chesterton’s Fence, the current post invites you to consider the unintended consequences of your actions. For context, one source states:
In the social sciences, unintended consequences (sometimes unanticipated consequences or unforeseen consequences, more colloquially called knock-on effects) are outcomes of a purposeful action that are not intended or foreseen. The term was popularized in the 20th century by American sociologist Robert K. Merton.
Suppose you used purposeful action by pressing the button discovered in your kitchen, only to find that you’d been randomly selected to cut the population of the world in half. By depressing the button, you’d be responsible for killing almost four billion people in an instant.
Admittedly, I’ve selected a hyperbolic example to make a point. It’s highly unlikely, if not outright impossible, that a mysterious button which wipes out half of the people of the globe will ever appear in your kitchen. (However, if the scenario occurs, I invite you to think before acting.)
In any case, the unintended consequences consideration becomes more relevant when considering matters related to public health. To illustrate what I mean, consider that one source proposes:
[Unintended consequences] can be used to explore the mechanisms underpinning social change caused by public health policies. Articulating these mechanisms is essential for truly evidence-informed decision-making, to enable informed debate about policy options, and to develop evaluation techniques.
With this understanding, consider that human beings are complex systems. As you read this blog entry your digestive system is processing nutrients, your skin is reacting to subtle temperature changes, and thoughts are randomly presenting themselves within your mind.
Now, consider this example (and yes, I’m venturing back into hyperbole). While you may believe that introducing a small dose of a foreign agent into your body won’t necessarily impact your health, I invite you to think about unintended consequences.
Suppose you ingest 1.5 to 2 mg/kg of caffeine. Unless you have a heart condition, an allergy to this substance, or some other preexisting condition, you likely won’t be harmed by this portion of caffeine. (Consult with your physician before taking my word as medical advice.)
Nevertheless, if you ingest 1.5 to 2 mg/kg of strychnine, you’ll probably die relatively soon afterwards. The same dose of one substance may be rather harmless when compared to the same dose of another element.
Now imagine that I hand you a capsule and encourage you to ingest it. I don’t tell you what it is or what it does. Maybe it has 1.5 to 2 mg/kg of caffeine or maybe it has the same amount of strychnine.
Would you consider that ingesting the unknown substance may have unintended consequences? Although you may think this example is as absurd as the illustrative idea of a button in your kitchen, I invite you to consider otherwise.
While I’m admittedly no fan of the organization that I maintain is an affront to the Constitution, I nevertheless appreciate data from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Mindful of the example regarding an unknown substance in capsule form, consider the following information.
According to the Administration, “The DEA Laboratory has found that, of the fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills analyzed in 2022, six out of ten now contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl.” Fake prescriptions could have deadly unintended consequences.
Now, consider that the Administration also reports, “In 2023, DEA seized more than 80 million fentanyl-laced fake pills and nearly 12,000 pounds of fentanyl powder. The 2023 seizures are equivalent to more than 381 million lethal doses of fentanyl.” That’s more doses than United States (U.S.) citizens.
Understanding the argument related to caution when considering unintended consequences, I now offer one final example – though this matter isn’t hyperbolic or abstract in nature. Consider the response to a global COVID-19 pandemic. (Oh yes, we’re going there.)
Do you recall how during the response Anthony Fauci was paraded before the world as a so-called expert who prescribed behavior in regards to masking, social distancing, supposed vaccinations, and other measures? Perhaps you recall people who criticized his advice as labeled “science deniers.”
People who, like me, advocated the actual practice of science versus Fauci’s scientism were mercilessly ridiculed. Merely inviting people to consider the unintended consequences of virus response measures was action that yielded its own unintended consequences for some people.
How many individuals lost jobs or professional licensure, were ostracized from families or other social network systems, or had their voices silenced on social media and elsewhere for raising caution about the unintended consequences of patently absurd practices such as a six-foot social distancing rule?
Now, consider that at his recent hearing Fauci ostensibly admitted that the six-foot rule, lab leak hypothesis, masking prescription, and other overly-reactionary measures weren’t actually based in science. Did you ever stop to consider the unintended consequences of Fauci’s advisements?
Rather than dunking on a fallible human being, as I unconditionally accept that Fauci and others of his ilk are as imperfect as I, the current blogpost is intended to advocate critical thought. Consideration of unintended consequences can – non-hyperbolically – save lives.
For whatever next big event presents itself, especially given that this is a U.S. presidential election year during which shenanigans are likely to occur, I encourage you to think about unintended consequences of urgently-proposed prescriptions. After all, critical questioning is a key component of rational living.
If you’re looking for a provider who works to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.
As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.
At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply helping you to feel better, I want to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
References:
Committee On Oversight and Accountability. (2024, June 4). Hearing wrap up: Dr. Fauci held publicly accountable by select subcommittee. Retrieved from https://oversight.house.gov/release/hearing-wrap-up-dr-fauci-held-publicly-accountable-by-select-subcommittee/
DEA. (n.d.). DEA Fentanyl Seizures in 2024. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Retrieved from https://www.dea.gov/onepill
DEA. (n.d.). DEA laboratory testing reveals that 6 out of 10 fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills now contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Retrieved from https://www.dea.gov/alert/dea-laboratory-testing-reveals-6-out-10-fentanyl-laced-fake-prescription-pills-now-contain
Freepik. (n.d.). Person pressing a buzzer [Image]. Retrieved from https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/person-pressing-buzzer_32450461.htm#fromView=search&page=3&position=14&uuid=f457c0b3-d4d9-4c90-a36f-8fd073c4a5dc
Hollings, D. (2024, May 24). A scientific approach to mental health. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/a-scientific-approach-to-mental-health
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Hollings, D. (2023, July 27). Chesterton’s fence. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/chesterton-s-fence
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Hollings, D. (2024, January 12). Sensitive event. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/sensitive-event
Hollings, D. (2023, August 6). The science. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-science
Hollings, D. (2023, February 25). Unconditional other-acceptance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/unconditional-other-acceptance
Hollings, D. (2023, February 17). Unmasking behavior. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/unmasking-behavior
Hollings, D. (2024, April 10). Welcome to complex systems. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/welcome-to-complex-systems
McIntyre, L. (2020, August 18). ‘How to talk to COVID-19 deniers.’ Newsweek. Retrieved from https://www.newsweek.com/how-talk-covid-deniers-1525496
Oliver, K., Lorenc, T., Tinkler, J., and Bonell, C. (2019). Understanding the unintended consequences of public health policies: the views of policymakers and evaluators. BMC Public Health. Retrieved from https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-019-7389-6
Raasch, J. M. (2024, June 3). Dr. Fauci tears up during congressional testimony as Republicans tear into him for Covid ‘lies’ and Majorie Taylor Greene says he belongs in ‘prison.’ Daily Mail. Retrieved from https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13488939/dr-anthony-fauci-covid-rules-testimony-congress.html
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Anthony Fauci. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Fauci
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Robert K. Merton. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_K._Merton
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Unintended consequences. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unintended_consequences
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