An analysis of factors to promote the self-restraint due to the COVID-19 in a framework of social dilemma

Abstract

We analyzed the factors that affect cooperative behavior and punishment norms in the early stages of the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Japan using a framework of a social dilemma. This study focused on the effects of psychological attitudes, which have been shown to promote prosocial behavior in previous studies. Furthermore, We analyzed the effect of media contact on prosocial behavior. We conducted an online survey of 2000 participants. As a result of the analysis, we found that the psychological attitudes which have been shown to promote prosocial behavior had a similar effect on the self-restraint caused by the COVID-19. Contrary to intuitive predictions, we found that media contact has a negative effect on cooperative behavior.