Doom has a sense of finality to it. An interesting article came across my desk yesterday. The headline from Science magazine said, “Will the world end next month? Science said so, in 1960.” How could I not take a look? More precisely, the 1960 prediction set a specific date: Friday, November 13, 2026. The original article by Austrian American physicist Heinz von Foerster and two colleagues caught the attention of the New York Times, and from there a rabid doomsday fascination took over. As often is the case in such scenarios, the fascination didn’t last once other physicists started looking at the math and proved von Foerster wrong. His idea that by this point the human population would be squeezing us off the planet failed to allow for a natural slowdown in the birthrate. 

Doom Has A History

Doom, the concept that certain death awaits us, has fascinated humans for a long time. An ancient cuneiform tablet dating somewhere between 2800-2500 BCE claimed the earth was entering its last days because humans were slowly deteriorating into corruption (Source: Ancient Origin Magazine). If they thought humans were corrupt then, can you imagine what those same Assyrians might have to say about us now?

Then, there are the infamous predictions of 16th-century forecaster Nostradamus. While he never actually put dates on any of his prophecies, other people have. There, too, the year 2026 doesn’t look to end particularly well. Nostradamus mentions a “seven-month great war,” which, technically, we passed at the end of September. Still, looking around, one’s tempted to wonder if he was closer than he could have realized.

Of course, people were obsessed with the Final Destination movies, not because of the accuracy of a prediction of widespread doom, but because once a person’s time of death was determined, there was no escape. The clear message there was that one doesn’t cheat death, ever. And millions of people rushed to see the movie.

The Predictable Failure of Prophecy

When you think about it, doomsday prophecies, to date, have a 100% failure rate. So, why are we so obsessed? Our fascination with predictions of doom is so strong that we even make up our own. Take any federal election, for example. Politicians don’t have to actually say something negative about LGBTQIA+ people before we start seeing predictions of harassment, loss of rights, incarceration, and even death for anyone associated with the group. When politicians do mention those things, it’s because they already know we’re obsessed with the topic and will pay attention to what they say.

However, elections come and go, and while some work better for a community than others, most of the doom and gloom predictions historically fall flat. That doesn’t keep us from dredging up the same fears in two years, though, when another election rolls around. The failure of one prediction seems to have zero impact on our willingness to embrace the shudders and worries caused by the next possible event.

The Psychology of Doom

Let’s break this down. I can’t keep you from clutching your grandmother’s pearls over the latest doomsday prophecy, but perhaps I can help you understand why your grip on those beads is so tight.

1. Your brain hates uncertainty. No, this has nothing to do with neurodivergence; no one handles not knowing how an event will transpire without their heart rate going up. We’re all wired that way. As a result, we would rather have the certainty of doom than the lingering anxiety of some uncontrollable event.
2. Pattern seeking & threat anticipation. Part of strong cognitive function is the ability to recognize patterns. Threat anticipation hands us possible patterns that lead us to horrible conclusions. The whole if/then scenario inevitably leads us right to the edge of insanity, waiting to be pushed.
3. A need for moral clarity. Think of every story you’ve ever read, or every movie you’ve ever seen. The conflict is set: Good vs. Evil; Saved vs. The Damned; Prepared vs. Careless. We don’t want to live in a world where both can exist simultaneously. An event cannot have both a good and a bad outcome. The moral simplicity of “if you sin, you’re going to die” is something many people actually find comforting. The rules are set.
4. Exclusivity & special knowledge. We look forward to saying “I told you so.” Humans enjoy knowing that the world is going to hell before the world goes to hell. We feel privileged that we were blessed with this knowledge and the foresight to act on it before anyone else.

Emotional Relief

This may sound counterintuitive, but the more chaotic your life is, the more likely you become to latch on to a conspiracy theory or doomsday scenario. Why? Because no one can blame you directly. If an iceberg falls into the ocean and the resulting tsunami drowns 40,000 people, Climate change is to blame, not you. You told everyone it was going to happen. No one wanted to listen, and now it’s too late. Emotionally, your mind lets out a great sigh of relief.

In a way, planning for disaster is comforting because it gives us a focal point for planning. The prepping, the listening to podcasts, charting events on a calendar all give us a sense of agency. We might not be able to stop the pending disaster, but we can damn-well be prepared when it hits.

For some, the chance that the world may almost end has a strange romanticism to it. Consider the stripped-back, bare-bones, get-by on the basics (sort of) world of the Mad Max movies. The apocalypse comes and goes. A handful of people survive. While not everyone is nice, the fact that the survivors don’t have to worry about a cell phone bill or the rising cost of streaming services is a bit enticing. 

Embracing The Doom Algorithm

We don’t fall into a doom spiral in secret. Your phone, laptop, and credit card know what’s happening before we’re conscious of our own actions. Consider your search topics, the pictures you saved to your phone, and those cases of shelf-stable food you have stashed in the basement. You’re leaving a “doom trail” with every ratcheting of your anxiety. 

Look around. How many of your “friends” on social media are scared of the same doomsday threats as you? Our culture hinges on gathering with people who have like or similar belief systems. Therefore, it’s no big surprise if all of your closest friends are sure that a chunk of the moon is going to fall off and wipe out North America. This is how doom operates.

Algorithms reward engagement with high-drama, fear-inducing, or darkly comedic disaster content because crisis captures everyone’s attention. So, we circle the doom date on our calendar, and then we plan a party.

Yes, there’s an unavoidable sense of finality in doom that can drive us to the point of depression. For some people, the inevitability becomes too much to handle, and they decide to take fate into their own hands. If you or anyone you know begins to consider those options, seek help. In the US, you can call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline simply by dialing 988. Yes, it’s working again. If for some reason that should change, there are still options. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-TALK (8255). You can also send a text to 741741, and someone will respond and offer help. Internationally, the one resource I know of is the IASP: International Association for Suicide Prevention. Chances are pretty high that they can provide you with a number close to your location. We can’t always stop a situation from happening, but we can help you avoid becoming a victim. Call or text any time.

Our brains are wired to respond predictably and emotionally to harbingers of doom. Up to a point, they can be entertaining. Please, don’t let a doomed prophecy be the end of you.