Using social and behavioural science to support COVID-19 pandemic response
Publication date
2020
Authors
Bavel, Jay J Van
Baicker, Katherine
Boggio, Paulo S
Capraro, Valerio
Cichocka, Aleksandra
Cikara, Mina
Crockett, Molly J
Crum, Alia J
Douglas, Karen M
Druckman, James N
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Advisors
Supervisors
Document Type
Article
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Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic represents a massive global health crisis. Because the crisis requires large-scale behaviour change and places significant psychological burdens on individuals, insights from the social and behavioural sciences can be used to help align human behaviour with the recommendations of epidemiologists and public health experts. Here we discuss evidence from a selection of research topics relevant to pandemics, including work on navigating threats, social and cultural influences on behaviour, science communication, moral decision-making, leadership, and stress and coping. In each section, we note the nature and quality of prior research, including uncertainty and unsettled issues. We identify several insights for effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic and highlight important gaps researchers should move quickly to fill in the coming weeks and months.
Keywords
Taverne, SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
Citation
Bavel, J J V, Baicker, K, Boggio, P S, Capraro, V, Cichocka, A, Cikara, M, Crockett, M J, Crum, A J, Douglas, K M, Druckman, J N, Drury, J, Dube, O, Ellemers, N, Finkel, E J, Fowler, J H, Gelfand, M, Han, S, Haslam, S A, Jetten, J, Kitayama, S, Mobbs, D, Napper, L E, Packer, D J, Pennycook, G, Peters, E, Petty, R E, Rand, D G, Reicher, S D, Schnall, S, Shariff, A, Skitka, L J, Smith, S S, Sunstein, C R, Tabri, N, Tucker, J A, Linden, S V D, Lange, P V, Weeden, K A, Wohl, M J A, Zaki, J, Zion, S R & Willer, R 2020, 'Using social and behavioural science to support COVID-19 pandemic response', Nature Human Behaviour, vol. 4, no. 5, pp. 460-471. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-020-0884-z