The outbreak of COVID-19 has led to widespread panic and confusion across the globe. As the virus continues to spread, people are becoming more and more concerned about their health and the health of their loved ones. Hospitals are struggling to keep up with the demand for care, and governments are imposing strict measures to control the spread of COVID- 19. Some of the societal reactions due to the Covid-19 pandemic include changes in beliefs and opinions, fear, despair and rebellion, criminal traits, and hoarding of products by companies.
Significance of the Covid-19 Societal Reactions Issue
The novel coronavirus, first identified in China in December 2019, has spread throughout the world, resulting in a pandemic of respiratory illness, now called COVID-19. The initial outbreak occurred in Wuhan, China, and has since spread to every continent except Antarctica. As of June 2019, there have been over 80,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and over 2,700 deaths (Djalante et al.). Most nations have managed to control the disease, but its impacts are still felt as people respond to the damage caused.
The reactions of society to the pandemic have been mixed, with some people feeling scared and worried about the disease, while others have been more dismissive and even angry about the whole situation (Djalante et al.). The outbreak of the pandemic has led to a lot of changes in society, with people becoming more aware of the dangers of the disease and the need to take precautions to protect themselves and others.
The coronavirus pandemic caused widespread panic and fear among the public. People have hoarded supplies, canceled plans, and avoided contact with others. The media has played a role in amplifying these fears, with 24-hour coverage of the outbreak and sensational headlines (Djalante et al.). This resulted to some problems, including a shortage of medical supplies, panic buying, and discrimination against people from countries affected by the outbreak. The pandemic has also had a major impact on the economy, with many businesses shutting down and people losing their jobs (Aguinis et al. 430). This has led to a lot of financial hardship for many people and has also led to an increase in crime.
There are some reasons why societal reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic are important. First and foremost, it is important to understand how people are reacting to the pandemic to better prepare for and respond to it. Additionally, societal reactions can provide valuable insights into people’s beliefs and attitudes about the pandemic, which can help inform public health messaging and policymaking (Djalante et al.). Finally, understanding how people are reacting to the pandemic can help to identify potential areas of concern or conflict and allow for early intervention.
Strain Theory
Strain theory is a sociological theory that explains the gap between an individual’s goals and the means to achieve those goals. Robert Merton first developed the Strain Theory in the late 1940s (Barlett et al. 468). This gap can lead to strain, leading to deviant behaviors. Other sociologists have expanded upon the theory to different types, including the structural strain that occurs when individuals do not have access to the resources they need to achieve their goals.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created pressure on individuals, families, and society as a whole. This strain has come in the form of economic hardship, as many people have lost their jobs or have had their hours reduced. There has also been strain on the healthcare system, as hospitals have been overwhelmed with patients (Barlett et al. 470). The pandemic has also led to a rise in mental health issues, as people have been isolated from their loved ones and have been living in fear of contracting the virus.
The Strain Theory can help to explain the societal reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic. The economic hardship that many people are facing has created tension and conflict. This tension has led to a rise in deviant behavior, such as looting and rioting. The healthcare system has also been under a great deal of strain, which has led to a decline in the quality of care (Barlett et al. 472). The mental health of individuals has also been affected by the pandemic, and many people have been struggling to cope with the stress and anxiety of the situation.
Strengths and Limitations
Strain theory has several strengths in its ability to explain observed reactions. First, the theory can explain how individuals experience immense pressure following the pandemic, hence various negative outcomes. Second, the theory takes into account the fact that different individuals will respond to the pandemic in different ways, depending on their circumstances (Barlett et al. 467). However, the strain theory also has some limitations. First, it does not explain why some people may react more positively to the pandemic than others. Second, it does not take into account the role of social factors in shaping people’s reactions to the pandemic (Barlett et al. 471). Third, it does not explain why some people may react more slowly than others to the pandemic.
Rational Choice Theory
Rational choice theory is a framework for understanding and predicting human behavior. The theory posits that people make decisions based on their self-interest; hence, they weigh the costs and benefits of each option and choose the one that will benefit them (Shanka and Kotecho 6-7). Some may place a higher value on their health and safety, so they take precautions to avoid infection. Others may value their freedom and ability to go about their lives as usual, so they take risks. The rational choice theory can also help explain why some people may be more likely to take risks than others.
The rational choice theory would suggest that people would react to the COVID-19 pandemic in a way that is based on reason and logic. This means that people would be likely to take actions that are in their best interests, and would avoid actions that could put them at risk (Shanka and Kotecho 5). For example, people might avoid large crowds and close contact with others, and would wash their hands frequently. On the other hand, people treasure their freedom to continue their lives as usual, so they do not take necessary precautions to prevent Covid-19 spread.
Strengths and Limitations
One strength of this perspective is that it takes into account both the individual and the collective level, which is important in understanding how society functions. However, the rational perspective also has some limitations (Shanka and Kotecho 9). For example, it assumes that people are always rational and that they have complete information about all the options available to them. In reality, people often make decisions based on emotion, and they may not have all the information necessary to make a truly informed decision.
Drift Theory
The drift theory posits that people are constantly moving and changing their opinions and beliefs due to several factors, including exposure to new information and experiences and the simple passage of time. It indicates that it is impossible to completely understand another person’s opinion or belief, as it may have changed over time (Edelmann et al. 77). Furthermore, it suggests that people should constantly revisit their views and beliefs to ensure they still hold and be open to the possibility that their opinions and beliefs may change over time.
The drift theory perspective would suggest that the societal reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic are a result of the gradual change in the norms and values of society. This theory would suggest that the pandemic has simply accelerated the pace of change that was already taking place (Edelmann et al. 72). The theory would also suggest that the reactions of different groups within society are a result of their position within the social hierarchy.
Strengths and Limitations
There are a few key strengths to the drift theory. First, it can explain how people can become desensitized to violence and other forms of social deviance over time. Second, it provides a way to understand how people become more accepting of deviant behavior if it is seen as commonplace or “normal.” However, there are also a few key limitations to the drift theory. First, it does not always accurately predict how people will react to aberration in their environment (Edelmann et al. 79). Second, it does not always take into account the role of individual agency in shaping people’s reactions to stressful situations. Lastly, it may oversimplify the complex social processes that contribute to people’s reactions to deviance.
The strain theory is best suited to analyze societal reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic because it focuses on how external factors and personal input that can lead to negative outcomes. The theory does not consider people as rational beings, as the rational choice theory suggests, but views people as able to make choices depending on the circumstances they face. Moreover, the drift theory is less suitable as it does not account for personal responsibility in responding to challenging situations, which the strain theory considers.
Works Cited
Barlett, Christopher P., et al. “Cyberbullying Perpetration in the COVID-19 ERA: An Application of General Strain Theory.” The Journal of Social Psychology, vol. 161, no. 4, 2021, pp. 466–476.
Djalante, Riyanti, et al. “Review and Analysis of Current Responses to Covid-19 in Indonesia: Period of January to March 2020.” Progress in Disaster Science, vol. 6, 2020.
Edelmann, Achim, et al. “Computational social science and sociology.” Annual Review of Sociology, vol. 46, no. 1, 2020, pp. 61-81.
Shanka, Mesay Sata, and Messay Gebremariam Kotecho. “Combining Rationality with Morality – Integrating Theory of Planned Behavior with Norm Activation Theory to Explain Compliance with Covid-19 Prevention Guidelines.” Psychology, Health & Medicine, vol. 4, no. 1, 2021, pp. 1–11.
Aguinis, Herman, et al. “Understanding Employee Responses to Covid-19: A Behavioral Corporate Social Responsibility Perspective.” Management Research: Journal of the Iberoamerican Academy of Management, vol. 18, no. 4, 2020, pp. 421–438.