The Psychology of Pandemics: Preparing for the Next Global Outbreak of Infectious Disease
TAGS: pandemics ·Authored By: Taylor, S.
Pandemics occur when an infectious disease spreads across countries around the world. The aftermath of a pandemic can bring widespread loss of human life and considerable economic, social, and political disruption. Experts in viral diseases predict that a global viral outbreak is fast approaching and underscore the need for increased public health preparedness to lessen the havoc that will be wrecked by this inevitability.
Slowing and stopping the spread of disease during a pandemic relies on members of society to change specific behavioural patterns (e.g., hygiene habits) and get vaccinated (if possible); however, the decision to partake in these changes is influenced by many psychological factors. In addition, psychological factors influence the way that people cope with the substantial stress and loss caused by pandemics. Knowledge of these psychological factors can help prevent and resolve issues resulting from problematic individual and societal responses to pandemics, such as the spreading of excessive fear and prejudice towards people who are perceived as foreign. Despite the influence that psychological factors have on the spread and effective management of pandemics, remarkably little consideration has been given to these factors in pandemic planning.
This book offers the first thorough guide to the psychology of pandemics. Inside it details how and why people cope differently with pandemics, drawing attention to the coping styles that can worsen the spreading of infection and fear during a pandemic. This book also provides scientific recommendations for public health planning that can help health-care officials ease the damage that follows in the wake of a pandemic.
Lay summary written by Julia Mason
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