Psychology offers many explanations for why the rescue of the Thai youth soccer team trapped in a cave captivated the world. At the most basic, however, the reasons are obvious: The action was fast-paced, the victims worthy of sympathy, and the desired outcome devoid of political overtones. In short, the story could have been a made-for-television drama, and networks treated it as such with tantalizing updates and heartwarming details of how the world came together to rescue the youth soccer team.
With the last of the boys and their coach successfully rescued on Tuesday, the world rightly celebrated. When the last headlines of joyful reunifications subside, the news cycle will inevitably turn to the next story — while prolonged crises that are more difficult to cover and with more complex details remain on the sidelines.
Slow-burning stories, like the ongoing refugee crises in the Middle East, economic and political collapse in Venezuela, or even the continued lack of housing and electricity in Puerto Rico fail to generate as much attention or outpourings of sympathy. They also quickly fall out of the news cycle.
These stories, however, also deserve attention. Focusing on their less captivating images, unraveling political complexities, and foregoing of a feel-good ending requires overcoming our own biases and engaging with media as active consumers.
Devoting attention to these issues not only allows individuals to better understand the headlines but also engenders compassion and results in more knowledgeable and engaged citizens and voters.
Although refocusing attention is hard to do, perhaps the hope inspired by the rescue of the soccer team will prompt new questions about the possibilities of international efforts to relieve human suffering. After all, the success of the efforts in Thailand was a story of experts from the United States, the U.K., China, Australia, Japan, and other countries joining Thai officials and Thai Navy Seals to save the trapped team — and this approach can be applied broadly, no captivating image necessary.
[More: Elon Musk’s ‘kid-sized submarine’ went unused in Thailand rescue operation]
