The "ostrich effect" is named for a common myth about these flightless birds.People today have access to more information than ever before in human history, but that doesn’t mean we want to know everything. In fact, many folks lean into a common tendency called “the ostrich effect” when confronted with a prospect or news they’d prefer to keep far from their consciousness. This instinct can lead to serious problems down the road, however. So how exactly does the ostrich effect impact our lives? Is it all bad, or are there any upsides? Below, experts break it down. First, what exactly is the ostrich effect?“The ostrich effect is a cognitive bias where we filter out, ignore or otherwise avoid negative or distressing information,” Caitlyn Oscarson, a licensed marriage and family therapist, told HuffPost. This term is related to a common myth about ostriches ― that they bury their heads in the sand when frightened or threatened by predators. “The ostrich effect is when people bury their head in the sand, engaging in avoidance and denial, hoping the problem will go away,” said