Psi Chi Journal | Volume 28, Issue 1 | Page 26–37

Identification With All Humanity Predicts Perceptions of COVID-19 Safety Precautions

Morgan Ferqueron, Jonathan F. Bassett, and Amanda J. Cleveland
Department of Psychology, Lander University

https://doi.org/10.24839/2325-7342.JN28.1.26

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Highlights

• Two online surveys of people in the United States were conducted to examine the factors that were associated with support for and compliance with public health measures in response to COVID-19.
• Both political liberalism and a stronger sense of identification with all of humanity were associated with more support for canceling public gathering and greater compliance with mask wearing recommendations.
• Framing the issue as a way to contribute to the welfare of broader society might be a useful way to increase compliance with public health measures for COVID-19.
• Maximizing future compliance will be a challenge requiring the ability to present persuasive messages across the political spectrum.

Abstract

Factors related to compliance with and perceptions of public health measures concerning COVID-19 were examined in 2 studies. Study 1 was administered in spring 2020 via a university list serve and social media (n = 512, M_age = 34.51). Study 2 was administered in fall 2020 via Amazon Mechanical Turk, a university list serve, and social media (n = 523, M_age = 31.55). In both studies, participants completed measures of identification with all humanity (IWAH), the 10-item personality inventory (TIPI), social dominance orientation (SDO), right-wing authoritarianism (RWA), political orientation, and religion. In Study 1, participants also completed measures regarding how concerned they were about the effects of COVID-19 on society, how much they supported canceling events to promote social distancing, and how much they altered their behavior to avoid gatherings. In Study 2, participants were asked about the extent to which they engaged in recommended behaviors intended to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and their compliance with mask guidelines. Over and beyond the influence of any other factors, IWAH was associated with greater concern about the health of society with regard to COVID-19 and more altering of behavior to avoid gatherings in Study 1 and with more mask compliance in Study 2. These data suggest that a fruitful tactic for increasing compliance with public health measures for COVID-19 might be framing the issue as a way to contribute to welfare of broader society.

Keywords

COVID-19 pandemic, masks, social distancing, identification with all humanity, social dominance orientation, right wing authoritarianism

Citation (APA 7th)

Ferqueron, M., Bassett, J. F., & Cleveland, A. J. (2023). Identification with all humanity predicts perceptions of COVID-19 safety precautions. Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research, 28(1), 26–37. https://doi.org/10.24839/2325-7342.JN28.1.26