Dishonesty during a pandemic: The concealment of COVID-19 information
Alison M. O’Connor, Angela D. Evans
Abstract
451, 20-82 years of age) were asked if they have concealed social distancing practices, COVID-19 symptoms, and quarantine instructions, as well as how they evaluated others' COVID-19 concealment. Those who believed they had contracted COVID-19 engaged in greater rates of concealment and evaluated concealment more positively compared to those without the virus. As age and communal orientation increased, COVID-19 concealment behaviors decreased, and evaluations of this concealment were rated more negatively. Implications for public health initiatives and psychological theory on concealing health information is discussed.
Topics & Concepts
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)Social distancePandemicPsychologyDishonesty2019-20 coronavirus outbreakPublic healthSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)DistancingSocial psychologyMedicineVirologyPathologyInfectious disease (medical specialty)OutbreakDiseasePsychology of Moral and Emotional JudgmentMisinformation and Its ImpactsSocial and Intergroup Psychology