The effects of psychological attitudes on voluntary cooperation against COVID-19: an analysis using a social dilemma framework

Abstract

The COVID-19 Pandemic is a global problem, and to prevent the spread of the infections, it is crucial not only to develop vaccines and therapeutic medications but also to encourage people to change their behavior. Behavioral change to prevent the spread of infectious diseases has required people to give up many activities, especially pleasures outside the home. However, it is hoped that if most people behave cooperatively, individuals’ selfish pursuit of pleasure will have little effect on the spread of infection. This conflict between benefits for individuals and those for the community as a whole can be considered a social dilemma. Clarifying the factors that define people’s behavior during epidemics is essential for designing social systems after the COVID-19 Pandemic is declared over. Here, we analyze the determinants of people’s behavior in the framework of a social dilemma by conducting a two-wave panel survey in 2020 and 2021. The results show that in the first wave, psychological attitudes that affect prosocial behavior, such as reciprocity, positively affect prosocial behavior. However, in the second wave, these effects disappear, and other factors define people’s behavior. Continuous analysis of the factors determining people’s behavior under drastically changing circumstances can provide information for planning measures to promote desirable behavioral changes.