Recently thought about 9/11. Sad. Rip.
But, the flu... (cringe)
Yup, that's similar.
There's a book, ,,Thinking Fast & Slow'' ;
authors wrote, that human mind, if being unable to rationalize/analyze + emotional reaction, will use the fast thinking, and associate the potential answer with something similar from the past, without question too much.
Probably because - >i know< feels much better, than <i don't know>.
(again, ,,feels'' , the effect and cause - both emotional)
,,Understanding the cause and effect''
- R.Dalio