The findings suggest that health officials and politicians should portray a message of unity and collective struggle to ensure the public will follow Covid-19 restrictions. The findings could help 'maximise public compliance with safety protocols during the Covid-19 pandemic', the researchers believe. 'The fact that people are more likely to imitate others who they regard as 'in-group' is critical for maximising public compliance with safety protocols during the Covid-19 pandemic,' he says. 'If the public see those who are providing them with guidance as "we" instead of "they", adherence to public health measures will be much higher.' If we consider ourselves part of the same social group as that person, we will adhere to the unwritten social contract.

Source: Daily Mail October 30, 2020 18:02 UTC