Controlling Epistemic Anxiety

By Tom Casey & Claire L. Hebert-Dow , with Lizy Freudmann

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Welcome to the New Year!? 2024 portends to be a roller coaster ride geopolitically, economically, and socially.

Beginning late summer of 2023 in Discussion Partners research and client work we observed the manifestation of “Epistemic Anxiety” among those with whom we were interacting.

The clinical definition of epistemic anxiety is “a phenomenon that has been posited to undermine the motivation for stakes sensitive theories of knowledge.” Translated into the sentiments being expressed to us were rage and lack of control resulting in a challenged optimism and concern for the future.?

?To dig deeper into the anecdotal feedback we had been receiving DPC conducted a Pulse Survey positing the following two questions:

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1. As you envision 2024 what are the circumstances that give you cause for concern? And,

2. What societal influences migrate from concern to fear and/or rage?

There were 1213 respondents derived from our relationship base to the above two questions. Responses were persuasive leading DPC to conclude “folks are really fed up with the situation in the world overall, and leaders both political and commercial in particular”.?

Be advised this research effort coincided with the Hamas attack on Israel, concerns regarding the prosecution of the Israeli interdiction in Gaza, drama in respect to selection of a US Speaker of the House, 2024 anticipated global election concerns, debate as to need for, and appropriateness of, funding for Israel and the Ukraine war efforts concomitant to the US Immigration situation, and manifested concern for the projected vulnerability of Capital Markets.

For communication purposes DPC is organizing the responses to both questions into “major causes for dissatisfaction and concern ” highlighting the top areas of consternation.?

2024 Dissatisfaction Indices

• Immigration- this topic elicited the overwhelming sentiment that complaints about, posturing on, and denial of problem, are wearing on respondents’ patience.? Sentiments such as “shut up and fix the problem” were oft expressed. Political inertia was the most oft mentioned input. It was frequently noted that IF countries could come to grips with the challenge the chronic shortage of labor would be mitigated
• Institutions- the year over year decline of faith in all institutions (government, corporations, religious, media, and courts) was noted.? Most frequently referred to in the US was the Supreme Courts decisions on Gun Control and Abortion as root causes for lack of faith (note the military in the US was positively commented upon by respondents)
• Politics- It is hard to know where to start on this one. Be advised we did ask respondents to self-identify their political spectrum position.? Those who classified themselves as “Moderates” from both US parties and Internationally represented the overwhelming number of respondents.? Candidly the lack of global progress to address serious issues such as Climate Change, Income Inequality, Immigration, as opposed to “self-serving posturing” were communicated as areas of friction.There was unanimous agreement that the 2024 US Presidential elections will represent” referendum on democracy” observations as also highlighted in December editions of The Economist, and The Atlantic)
• Religion- overt Anti-Semitism and intolerance of adherents to the Muslim faith globally were resoundingly criticized, exacerbated by the October 7th incursion into Israel and resultant human collateral casualty of the Gaza interdiction
• Truth- while the usual suspects Politicians and Media got the Pinocchio awards, no institution, faith, nor commercial sector was absent criticism.? The most frequently mentioned example was the response to the Opioid Crisis and unwillingness to confront extremism as no-ones finest hour
• Violence- the violence visited upon of a “different race, religion, or sexual orientation” as evidenced by Illinois, Jacksonville, Charleston, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, SoCal killings domestically Ukraine, Sudan, Israel, and Gaza internationally.? Three adjunct observations were ventured:

1. Promotion of White Supremacy,
2. Continued denial by the Courts, NRA, and Politicians that “the death of innocents will only increase until we deny access to assault weaponry”
3. The wars in Ukraine and Gaza concomitant with derived religious intolerance

• Women- while treatment, compensation parity, and career opportunity were mentioned the abandonment of Roe vs. Wade, and the attempts by certain countries (Poland), to oversee the choices women make on abortion among other matters were deemed as negatives (the political push back on these matters was celebrated as “victories” in Ohio, Kansas, and Poland)
• War- the War in the Ukraine as a test for NATO, Gaza, and tensions with Russia, and China contribute to a sense of malaise

Although not considered statistically significant as compared to above responses, concerns about AI, Elitism, Climate Threats and Economic Recession were identified. McKinsey Insights on December 12th reinforced these areas as C-Suite imperatives for 2024.

The overall conclusion from the Discussion Partners research is that concerns about the state of the world are influencing feelings of isolation, disenfranchisement, and in some cases personal depression.

When suggestions as to “how can your leaders help you navigate the upcoming year”, DPC received input similar to our 2021 research as we emerged from the Pandemic.? Empathy, Transparency, and Accountability were identified as not aspirations of leaders; they are now indicated as requirements.

In addition self-promotion, expediency, unwillingness to confront, and aspiration for media moments appear to be reaching their sell-by date of tolerance.

One quote encapsulated for DPC Advisors the overarching mental model as we enter the year, “During Covid we were terrified, subsequently there has been no real cause for optimism, compelling me to crave unselfish and constructive leadership on all levels."

Welcome to the New Year!

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