The New Psychology of Pandemics: Uncertainty, Fear, Control, and Conflict

Pandemics are global outbreaks of novel or re-emerging infectious diseases, and reveal aspects of humanity rarely seen in calmer times. Pandemics will likely become more prevalent in the coming years due to climate change, the growing global population, and other factors. Psychology plays an essential role in pandemics, in which people’s beliefs, emotions, and behaviors influence the spreading and containment of infection. Uncertainty is an inherent aspect of pandemics; when faced with novel pathogens, people cope with these invisible, uncertain threats in various ways, including coping strategies that provide only an illusion of control, making people calmer but not safer. Other psychological phenomena observed during pandemics include polarized fear reactions (excessive alarm vs. undue disregard for the threat), fleeing, panic-buying, xenophobia, rumors and conspiracy theories, protests about wearing protective facemasks, anti-vaccination attitudes, lockdown protests, increases in mood and anxiety disorders, and other societal problems. Efforts to manage one problem (e.g., lockdown to stem the spread of infection) may worsen other problems (e.g., mental health).

The New Psychology of Pandemics offers a comprehensive analysis of these and other issues concerning the psychology of pandemics, to prepare for future global outbreaks of infectious diseases. The book explores promising new directions for maintaining and improving mental health and enhancing adherence to pandemic mitigation measures such as social distancing, mask-wearing, and vaccination.

Steven Taylor is a Professor and Clinical Psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of British Columbia. His work focuses on anxiety disorders and the psychology of pandemics. Dr. Taylor has authored over 300 scientific publications and more than 20 books. His most recent book, published shortly before the outbreak of COVID-19, was The Psychology of Pandemics: Preparing for the Next Global Outbreak of Infectious Disease. Dr. Taylor served on several national and international expert panels during COVID-19 and was recognized in 2023 as a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher for his research on the psychology of pandemics.