The Cassandra Complex

The Cassandra Complex refers to a situation where individuals or groups, despite having valid warnings or insights about future threats, are dismissed or ignored by others. Named after the Greek mythological figure Cassandra, who could foresee the future but was cursed never to be believed, it highlights the challenge of communicating important, often urgent, concerns—such as climate change or health crises—yet facing skepticism or denial. This phenomenon underscores the difficulty in convincing society or authorities to act on credible risks before they cause harm.