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How to Use Psychology to Convince People to Take Social Distancing Seriously
As COVID-19 cases rapidly spread across the U.S., we’ve experienced rapid social disruption. Schools, libraries, and businesses are closed; bands’ tours and sports leagues are on hiatus; experts recommend we wash our hands frequently and, most drastically, minimize contact with others through social distancing. Many people are following these guidelines by working from home if they can, canceling trips, and putting up with chapped hands, but others view these precautions as an overreaction. Some have even defiantly run toward the exact things experts warn against, taking advantage of lower travel fares, or insisting on dancing it out at an enormous senior community.
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Social Distancing Prevents Infections, But It Can Have Unintended Consequences
In response to the coronavirus pandemic, public health officials are asking us to do something that does not come naturally to our very social species: Stay away from each other. Such social distancing—avoiding large gatherings and close contact with others—is crucial for slowing the spread of the virus and preventing our health care system from getting overwhelmed. But it won’t be easy. ...
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The Mental Health Toll of the Coronavirus Epidemic
Around the world, governments and health experts are scrambling to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Urgent public awareness campaigns are being used to inform the public of the severity of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. Social distancing measures — some voluntary, some imposed — have been put in place in countries around the globe. These drastic steps are necessary to avoid potentially millions of deaths globally over the next few months. The ultimate concern is the health and well-being of those who are vulnerable to the virus.
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Psychological Science and Epidemics: Voices of Experts
The science of psychology can help inform public debate and understand public behavior related to COVID-19.
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A Cough, and Our Hearts Stop: Coping With Coronavirus Anxiety and Fear
We are you. We are mothers, daughters, students and teachers. Yet we are also clinical psychologists who spend our days researching and treating pathological anxiety and fear. With the near constant news of the spreading coronavirus and fatalities, our personal and professional identities have dramatically collided, forcing us to consciously live consistent with the scientific principles we know well. ... In Seattle’s elevated threat environment, anxiety processes are playing out in our daily lives.
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New Special Collections: New Perspectives on Psychological Science
Four independently submitted journal articles (preface by an outstanding early-career scholar) explore the importance of contextualizing morality in order to better understand moral behaviors and change.
