Research Identifies and Explores the Impacts of Emerging Behavioral Identities of COVID-19

A new research by Mimi E. Lam (University of Bergen) has just appeared in Communications in human and social sciences identifies and explores the impacts of emerging viral or COVID-19 behavioral identities.

These emerging behavioral identities of COVID-19 are being hijacked by existing social and political identities to politicize the pandemic and intensify racism, discrimination, and conflict. 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 fundamental dignity of all and to value the human diversity that currently divides us. “

Mimi E. Lam, University of Bergen

“Only then can we foster societal resilience and an ethical COVID-19 agenda. This would pave the way for other common global challenges whose impacts are less immediate, but no less serious for humanity.

Lam argues that liberal democracies need an ethical policy agenda with three priorities: 1. recognizing the diversity of individuals; 2. deliberate and negotiate value compromises; and 3. promote public buy-in, trust and compliance.

Some emerging “COVID-19 personality types”:

• Deniers: which minimize the viral threat, promoting the status quo
• Spreaders: who want it to spread, herd immunity to develop and normalcy to return
• Harmers: who try to harm others by spitting or coughing, for example
• Realistic: who recognize the reality of the potential harm and adjust their behavior
• Worrying: who stay informed and safe to deal with their uncertainty and fear
• Contemplators: who isolate and reflect on life and the world
• Hoarders: who panic, buy and accumulate products to calm their insecurity
• Invincible: often young people, who believe they are immune
• Rebels: who denounce social rules restricting their individual freedoms
• Blamers: who express their fears and frustrations on others
• Exploiters: who exploit the situation for power, profit or brutality
• Innovators: who design or reuse resources to fight the pandemic
• Supporters: who show their solidarity to support others
• Altruists: helping vulnerable, elderly and isolated people
• Warriors: who, like frontline health workers, fight their grim reality
• Veterans: who have suffered from SARS or MERS and voluntarily comply with the restrictions