Subscribe
The latest psychology and neuroscience discoveries.
My Account
  • Mental Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Cognitive Science
  • Psychopharmacology
  • Neuroscience
No Result
View All Result
PsyPost
PsyPost
No Result
View All Result
Home Exclusive Cognitive Science

Lower working memory capacity linked to non-compliance with social distancing guidelines during the early stage of the coronavirus outbreak

by Eric W. Dolan
July 11, 2020
in Cognitive Science, COVID-19, Social Psychology
Share on TwitterShare on Facebook
Follow PsyPost on Google News

New research provides preliminary evidence that working memory is associated with engaging in social distancing in the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic. The new study has been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

On March 11th, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of the novel coronavirus SARS‐CoV‐2 to be a global pandemic. Governments around the world urged people to follow preventive health measures such as frequent hand washing and physical distancing. But not everyone abided by the safety guidelines.

“At the moment, successful containment of the COVID-19 outbreak critically relies on people’s voluntary compliance with social distancing guidelines. However, there is widespread non-compliance in our society, especially during the early stage of this pandemic (and more recently after reopening),” said study author Weizhen Xie (Zane), a postdoctoral research fellow at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

The researcher noted that there have been numerous media reports about Americans failing to physically distance themselves from one another in public spaces.

“As a researcher in cognitive psychology, I feel that it is our duty to figure out why some people follow the developing norm of social distancing while others ignore it. Addressing this issue may help mitigate the current public health crisis due to the COVID-19,” Xie said.

In two studies, the researchers surveyed 850 U.S. residents between March 13 and March 25, 2020 — the first two weeks following the U.S. presidential declaration of a national emergency about the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to collecting demographic information and assessing social distancing compliance, the surveys included assessments of working memory, personality, mood, and fluid intelligence.

Xie and his colleagues found that those with better working memory capacity were more likely to indicate that they had followed social distancing guidelines, such as not shaking hands and avoiding social gatherings.

“Our findings reveal a novel cognitive root of social distancing compliance during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said co-author Weiwei Zhang.

The researchers also found that higher levels of fluid intelligence and agreeableness had a weak association with greater social distancing compliance. But the link between working memory and social distancing held even after controlling for these factors and others.

Those with better working memory capacity also tended to view social distancing as having more benefits than costs and were more likely to have a preference for fairness during an Ultimatum Game, which partially explained the association.

“The decision of whether or not to follow social distancing guidelines is a difficult one, especially when there is a conflict between the societal benefits (e.g., prevent straining public health resources) and personal costs (e.g., loss in social connection and financial challenges). This decision critically relies on our mental capacity in retaining multiple pieces of potentially conflicting information in our head, which is referred to as working memory capacity,” Xie told PsyPost.

“Realizing this cognitive bottleneck, the bottom line is that we should not rely on people’s habitual following of a norm because social distancing is not yet adequately established in U.S. society. Policy makers should develop strategies to aid people’s decision by making information or debriefing materials succinct, concise, and brief.”

As with all research, the study comes with a few caveats. Zhang noted in a blog post that working memory is just one factor among many. The researchers also found evidence that age, gender, and depressed mood played a role.

“There is no doubt that many factors we did not include in this study may also contribute to social-distancing compliance, perhaps with even stronger relationships. It is, therefore, inappropriate to attribute individual differences in social distancing behaviors entirely to one’s cognitive abilities such as working memory capacity and fluid intelligence,” Zhang wrote.

The link between working memory and social distancing compliance could also change over time.

“We expect that the contribution of working memory will decline as new social norms, such as wearing a mask or socially distancing, are acquired by the U.S. society over time,” Xie explained.

“Our observations are correlational in nature. It remains to be established whether or not certain strategies to break the cognitive bottleneck, such as working memory training and translational brain stimulation, could reduce social distancing non-compliance and subsequently mitigate a public health crisis.”

The study, “Working memory capacity predicts individual differences in social-distancing compliance during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States“, was authored by Weizhen Xie, Stephen Campbell, and Weiwei Zhang.

TweetSendScanShareSendPin8ShareShareShare

RELATED

Mask appeal: How COVID-19 safety measures shaped online dating preferences
COVID-19

Mask appeal: How COVID-19 safety measures shaped online dating preferences

March 31, 2024

A study during COVID-19 found online dating profiles featuring individuals wearing masks more attractive than those without. Vaccination status had a lesser impact on preferences.

Read more
Beta-frequency coherence bursts in the brain serve as a reliable marker of anxiety levels
Cognitive Science

Groundbreaking brain implant decodes thoughts into text for paralyzed patients

March 30, 2024

In a new development, scientists have created a brain implant that converts neural signals into text, offering new communication avenues for individuals paralyzed and unable to speak.

Read more
Astronauts surprisingly good at judging distances without gravity
Cognitive Science

Astronauts surprisingly good at judging distances without gravity

March 30, 2024

Astronauts accurately estimate distances in microgravity by relying more on visual cues, with their spatial perception abilities remaining unaffected by the transition to and from space. This insight is crucial for ensuring precise navigation and safety during space missions.

Read more
Experiments show political affiliation trumps fair play in moral evaluations
Political Psychology

Experiments show political affiliation trumps fair play in moral evaluations

March 30, 2024

Individuals, regardless of moderate political beliefs, judge opponents as less moral, even when treated fairly or kindly, underscoring deep political polarization in the United States.

Read more
College students who procrastinate have a higher risk of poor mental and physical health
Social Psychology

Stipends for doctoral students of psychology have not kept pace with cost of living in the U.S., study finds

March 30, 2024

U.S. doctoral psychology students face significant financial stress due to insufficient stipends not keeping pace with living costs, leading to high levels of debt, postponement of major life events, and impacts on mental health and access to healthcare.

Read more
Kids in ethnically diverse classrooms exhibit superior theory of mind abilities
Cognitive Science

Kids in ethnically diverse classrooms exhibit superior theory of mind abilities

March 30, 2024

Children in ethnically diverse classrooms and those with cross-ethnic friendships show an enhanced ability to tune into others' minds, highlighting the significant role of social diversity in children's understanding of others' perspectives and feelings.

Read more

SUBSCRIBE

Go Ad-Free! Click here to subscribe to PsyPost and support independent science journalism!

STAY CONNECTED

RECENT

Mental flexibility can preserve relationship satisfaction amid partner’s sleep issues

Maltreated children tend to have lower brain volumes

Mask appeal: How COVID-19 safety measures shaped online dating preferences

Groundbreaking brain implant decodes thoughts into text for paralyzed patients

Astronauts surprisingly good at judging distances without gravity

Experiments show political affiliation trumps fair play in moral evaluations

Stipends for doctoral students of psychology have not kept pace with cost of living in the U.S., study finds

Kids in ethnically diverse classrooms exhibit superior theory of mind abilities

  • Contact us
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms and Conditions
[Do not sell my information]

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Cognitive Science Research
  • Mental Health Research
  • Social Psychology Research
  • Drug Research
  • Relationship Research
  • About PsyPost
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy