Abstract
Background: Motivation scientists study goals, self-regulatory tools that are used to help people approach or avoid objects of desire or disdain. Purpose: Using these tools, motivation science can offer insights to guide behaviour and help individuals maintain optimal health and well-being during pandemics, including COVID-19. Results: Avoidance goals help guide behaviour away from negative objects like COVID-19, and are necessary in situations where survival is at stake. Formulating the goal of avoiding COVID-19 is therefore recommended during the pandemic. However, avoidance goals have inherent limitations, in that they tax one’s energy and well-being. To minimize these costs, the pursuit of approach sub-goals may be recommended, such as increasing social connection online or exercising outdoors (particularly prior to widespread vaccination). Conclusion: Adhering to the goal of avoiding COVID-19 prevents infection and saves lives when safe and effective vaccines and treatments are lacking. But avoidance goals have known costs that must be acknowledged and addressed. One solution is to pair avoidance goals with approach sub-goals to bolster mental and physical health while adhering to the ultimate goal of avoiding COVID-19, viral variants, and future contagions. Doi: 10.28991/SciMedJ-2021-0304-7 Full Text: PDF
Highlights
A new zoonotic disease emerged at the close of 2019, caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 [1]
Avoidance goals are uniquely structured to help guide behaviour away from a negative object, and are necessary in situations where survival is at stake
Formulating the goal of avoiding COVID-19 is recommended during the pandemic
Summary
A new zoonotic disease emerged at the close of 2019, caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 [1]. The virus spread rapidly and rampantly, and by mid-March 2020, this disease – COVID-19 – had been declared a global pandemic [2]. Hampered by a paucity of pharmaceutical options like vaccines or effective treatments, individuals struggled to find the best prescription to maintain health. We look back on the early response to COVID19 from the perspective of motivation science, and offer some suggestions for future outbreaks (or, in countries where vaccination is sparse, suggestions for the present)
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