A hundred percent. This is a validation loop— the act of seeking reassurance cognitively reinforces that the fear is a legitimate one. The transitory relief from the reassurance diminishes over time as this connection strengthens, until the act of seeking reassurance is itself distressing.
Jessica Kant
As an OCD haver, if I were at all inclined to use generative AI, it would make my disorder one million times worse because that’s what reassuring someone with OCD does
moby dickgirl
This is a perfect encapsulation of what I’ve seen happen with this thing that at first appears so useful to people with anxiety disorders who see it as a reality check. Eventually, they pop on for ten minutes for a quick pep talk, and suddenly ten hours have gone by and they feel worse.
Jessica Kant
As a social species, we often talk out our personal decisions with other people, but thankfully even the most patient person will get tired at some point. Using AI for constant reassurance is like circling a drain forever.
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“Wharton School researchers have dubbed this phenomenon ‘cognitive surrender,’ in which users shift from treating AI as a tool to treating it as an authority, accepting its answers rather than actively evaluating them.”
