De-escalation: why there are different behaviors in the face of de-escalation

Summary of the factors that explain the differences in attitude and behavior during de-escalation.

The current situation is unprecedented, so at the psychological level it is a great challenge. We are facing, in Spain, the so-called de-escalation phase after having carried out a confinement in our homes with the aim of preventing the spread of the coronavirus.

This de-escalation phase implies greater freedom of movement, and, subsequently, being able to meet with family and friends, to go to the terraces of bars, to stores, etc. Therefore, a priori, it is a more favorable situation for our mental health.

However, the de-escalation phase is more favorable for our mental health, the de-escalation phase is being carried out in various ways that may be surprising because of their differences. For example, we find people who are afraid to go out, people who break the rules and seem unaware of the risks, those who are more responsible and try to comply with the indications, etc.

Why do these differences in attitude arise in de-escalation?

These are the factors that come into play in explaining this phenomenon.

Risk perception

A very important factor is the perception of risk. Human beings tend to think that misfortunes will not happen to them; this is a defense mechanism that makes our lives more bearable. This bias leads to actions such as not complying with health recommendations, thinking that we will not become infected or that if we do, there will be no consequences.

However, there are people who have a greater perception of riskThis can be very positive in situations like the ones we live in, since fear helps us to protect ourselves, but if this probability is felt as a certainty, the person becomes very anxious and can develop psychological problems such as agoraphobia or anxiety due to illness.

Therefore, the ideal is to try to keep this bias under control and to think that there is a probability of infecting (and infecting) even if it is not a certainty and does not mean the worst outcome, and to take appropriate safety measures.

Responsibility

Another key factor is responsibility; those who have this characteristic among their personality attributes. In this situation, it is possible to act responsibly, i.e., being aware that the consequences of the events are of the utmost importance and acting accordingly. On the contrary, if one tends to be irresponsible, one is more likely to act thinking about what the person feels like and not about the medium and long term consequences.

Frustration tolerance

Frustration tolerance is another key to explaining interindividual differences. This is the the characteristic that allows people to adapt to changes and, especially, to what has truncated their plans, their desires...their desires...

If the person has an adequate tolerance to frustration, it is more likely that he/she has adapted better to the current situation and that he/she can carry out behaviors with limitations.

Acceptance of rules

Closely linked to all this, we have the acceptance of rules. There are people who are able to tolerate the imposition of rules or limitations, generally because they have had to abide by them in various situations throughout their lives. For people who have followed guidelines, it is easier to maintain the measures that are being set in the de-escalation phase.

Degree of individualism

One aspect to note is whether the person is driven more by individualism or by a vision of social good.. There are differences between people who behave thinking of themselves, for example, "if I go out without a mask, nothing happens, it is only one person", or those who think of their role as a whole, for example, "if I go out without a mask, another person can do the same and no one would comply with the recommendation".

Social awareness is very important in the sense of not only worrying about our wellbeing and not getting sick ourselves, but also knowing that each individual action has repercussions on society as a whole and even if we don't get sick, we can be the transmitters.

Patience

Another important point is to be aware that every action counts.. There are people who think, "For one time I do...", "for one person I visit...", "for a while I am sitting in the park..." and it may be true that this simple gesture does not involve a high risk, but we must bear in mind that if all people took this attitude of minimizing the risks and consequences of our actions, the chances of increasing the number of infections would increase enormously.

Conclusion

With all these aspects that we have mentioned, what we intend is to convey a balance in terms of how we manage this new situation. We must be aware of the danger to which we are exposed in this new pandemic that has hit us, but that does not mean that we have to act solely out of fear. If we are aware, take safety measures and respect the rules in force, we do not have to stop doing the permitted activities.

If you feel that going outside is generating anxiety, fear or anger when you see that not everyone complies with the rules, we recommend that you seek professional help. From Mariva Psicólogos, we will be happy to help you.