(Editor’s Note: The PV Student Publication has partnered with The Research Club to publish a series of research essays related to topics of COVID-19. All research essays are written and fact-checked by members of the Research Club, and The PV Student Publication is rolling out these essays as a service to our community. This essay explores the reasons why individuals ignore COVID guidelines and how society can resist misinformation about the pandemic.  This paper is written by seniors Daniel DeMilia and Madeleine Miller, fact-checked by sophomore Eva Senande, and edited by senior Elise Schicker.)

Why do people ignore health guidelines?

In a survey conducted in thirteen countries, 67% of people reported consuming more news due to the pandemic. Unfortunately, some of these news sites, particularly ones spreading false information, are causing an increase in the misunderstanding of the virus. Some have even termed this situation an infodemic, as it is a rapid spread of misinformation.

One example of this is a survey, conducted by Pew Research Center, that was released in April 2020. It showed that about 30% of Americans believe that COVID-19 was made in a lab, with 23% of Americans believing that the virus was made intentionally. The survey goes on to state that 95% of those surveyed have seen some form of news that they deem to be false. Additionally, the US Department of Justice issued a statement stating that many people were circulating false flyers claiming a medical exemption from wearing a mask.

With the misinformation being spread around, as well as the commonly held misconceptions about the virus, it is clear that many are ignoring health guidelines due to a lack of comprehension of the severity of the virus.

But why do people who understand the virus still choose to ignore health guidelines?

The most blatant culprit of ignoring health guidelines despite understanding the risks is the infamous influencer parties. Youtubers and Tiktokers, including Jake Paul, Tana Mongeau, Charli D’Amelio, and James Charles have all been spotted at large parties[ 1 ], most without face masks or any health precautions.

Despite being first researched in 1966, the Reactance Theory provides some reasoning behind why people chose to ignore health guidelines. According to the theory, if people feel as if their freedoms are being encroached upon, or taken away entirely, they may have adverse reactions that typically align in intensity to the degree of freedom being taken away.

Additionally, in a recent amendment to the theory, people’s reactions are typically stronger when freedom is being threatened rather than when freedom has been fully removed, due to the assumption that there was a necessity in removing that freedom. This theory can be applied today, with the threat of shutdowns only causing people to continue to push back, fearing their freedoms being taken away.

How do we prevent the reactance and misinformation?

As for worldwide prevention, the World Health Organization (WHO) urges participating nations to launch their own anti-misinformation campaigns to promote healthy behaviors and dismiss inaccurate information.

To contribute to the decrease in misinformation, take the time to share accurate and up-to-date information, preferably from the CDC, with followers, friends, and family.