How We Deal with COVID-19:  Which Are You?

By Shlomo Maital   

13 types

  How have YOU reacted to COVID-19? 

  A colleague has informed of about new research by Mimi E. Lam (University of Bergen) just published in Humanities and Social Sciences Communications.  She identifies and explores the impacts of  COVID-19 behavioral identities that are emerging.

“These emergent COVID-19 behavioural identities are being hijacked by existing social and political identities to politicize the pandemic and heighten racism, discrimination, and conflict,” says Lam. She continues: “the COVID-19 pandemic reminds us that we are not immune to each other. To unite in our fight against the pandemic, it is important to recognize the basic dignity of all and value the human diversity currently dividing us.”

So – here are the 13 behavioral identities.  How have YOU responded to the crisis?  Of course, we are all combinations, or hybrids, of all 13.  But, which behavior MOST describes you?  Are you OK with this?  Would you like to, perhaps, embrace a little more  one of the others?    Are you a supporter?   At least, some of the time?

•           Deniers: who downplay the viral threat, promoting business as usual

•           Spreaders: who want it to spread, herd immunity to develop, and normality to return

•           Harmers: who try to harm others by, for example, spitting or coughing at them

•           Realists: who recognize the reality of the potential harm and adjust their behaviors

•           Worriers: who stay informed and safe to manage their uncertainty and fear

•           Contemplators: who isolate and re?ect on life and the world 

•           Hoarders: who panic-buy and hoard products to quell their insecurity

•           Invincibles:  often youth, who believe themselves to be immune

•           Rebels: who de?antly ?out social rules restricting their individual freedoms

•           Blamers: who vent their fears and frustrations onto others

•           Exploiters: who exploit the situation for power, pro?t or brutality

•           Innovators: who design or repurpose resources to fight the pandemic

•           Supporters: who show their solidarity in support of others