For many people, the new health measures adopted by the National Security Council will be “a big setback“because nobody expected a second wave of infection to come so soon,” says Omer Van den Bergh, health psychologist at KULeuven and member of the working group “Psychology & Corona“which advises the group responsible for the exit strategy from containment (GEES).”Social appetite will be painful“, he admits.
“Awareness of the importance of rules will increase, but there will undoubtedly be people who will tire of them. There will be a group that will stray from the rules“, according to the expert.
What is missing is a coherent motivational support policy
On a regular basis, Professor Maarten Vansteenkiste (UGent), psychologist, conducts a survey on the behaviors and motivations of people during the period of health crisis of the coronavirus pandemic. The measures of July 14 show that people find it difficult to respect social rules, especially during the holidays.
“What is missing is a coherent motivational support policy. This means that we not only focus on information and communication, but also that we integrate elements of behavior management.“, develops the psychologist. In this way, individuals can identify with objectives and begin to feel also partly responsible, he explains.
A color code?
For example, a self-assessment test can help determine if you are doing well. What can also help is an easy and understandable monitoring system which allows the population to follow the situation. With a color code, it is easier to understand whether the turn of events is going in the right direction or not, as well as when and what the next phase will be, suggests the psychologist.
Finally, using social models in small videos, the “label“in times of coronavirus could be explained, he adds. For example to show how to avoid risk in social situations like a barbecue or a party.
The fact that children are excluded from the bubble is, according to the expert, a positive element. “Indeed, by integrating them, the bubble of five would be really very narrow. In addition, before 12 years of age, children have a more restricted network within which they are autonomous.“Ajoute Omer Van den Bergh.
–
