Physical Distancing – Not Social Isolation: Lessons from Psychology for COVID-19
Social distancing has been a first call for action after the widespread of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been enforced all over the world as the most important and efficient way to “flatten the curve”. Indeed, it looks like it works and we all might need to continue with a lock-down for some time. However, many psychologists almost instantly reacted on different social media platforms urging not to mix up physical distancing and social distancing. Intuitively, it makes sense. However, let’s take a look what are the dangers of social distancing that so many psychologists intuitively oppose to. What science tells us about social distancing and social isolation, why it is so dangerous, and what can we do about it? (more…)