Psychological causes of (non-) follow-up of government measures against COVID-19. Research to optimize communication about necessary behavioral measures.

Until a vaccine against COVID-19  is found, overcoming its first pandemic and preventing or limiting new outbreaks of the same or other infectious diseases depends on how well citizens comply with the preventive measures imposed by governments. Despite all efforts of governments to clearly and repeatedly communicate these rules, many people continue to break them. Others' compliance comes with the cost of considerable stress. This project investigates the role of psychological factors in (non) compliance with the rules and in people’s experience of complying with them. It examines aspects of risk perception, the perception of one's own risk and prevention behavior and that of others, the attribution of responsibility for the spreading of, and for limiting the spreading of the infection, and benefit finding related to the pandemic itself and the preventive measures. The international nature of this project - with data collections in more than twelve countries on three continents - will also enable us to uncover the role of cultural conditions and the severity with which the pandemic affects a society. The project will provide immediately useful recommendations for successful persuasive government communication on COVID-19 and future pandemics. It will save lives by helping to encourage people to follow the rules with minimal stress and discomfort.