Written by Logan Regu
Over the last few months, as we have grown to know all too well, the world has been in quarantine as a result of the current global pandemic that is COVID-19. In early March, any discussion of the virus was unconcerned, curious, and even light-hearted, often taking the form of jokes and humorous commentary on some distant virus halfway across the world. One day, we were in school, only hearing about the pandemic sporadically, and with little concern, but ultimately, not taking it very seriously at all, and most certainly not seeing the fast approaching lock down once it spread to Canada. The next thing we knew, school was suspended for an additional two weeks after the March break, and we were encouraged to begin social distancing. Shortly thereafter, this break was extended another month, and then another, and another, and now, here we are, almost five months in, and still with little insight on when things will be completely back to normal. Progress has definitely been made, and for the most part, individuals and businesses have been taking all the necessary precautions to keep us safe during this time. The cases have started declining, and we finally have a glimpse of the light at the end of the tunnel.
There have been many challenges that people have faced as a result of the pandemic, and specifically, the quarantine that we have all been placed in. One of the main obstacles that many are struggling with is the enforcement of social distancing. In the early stages, this was shocking news for many people. The idea of staying six feet apart from your friends and family was an upsetting prospect for many, and a difficult adjustment. More seriously, this affected the mental health of many, especially those living alone, or with few ways to communicate with their loved ones without seeing them in person. The unfortunate consequences of our new environment have continued to be a struggle throughout the pandemic. However, the question is, what are the unexpected positive aspects?
Firstly, this new age of social distancing, Zoom calls, and online shopping, has been quite an interesting transition. On a smaller scale, seeing friends, even from a few feet apart, has become less of an everyday occurrence, and more of a special occasion. In the early stages, it was common for friends to walk by each other's houses to say hello from the street, or to meet in a spacious park where they could still see one another, but from a safe distance. Of course, this was initially strange and unfamiliar, and at times, an inconvenience, but overall, it was heartwarming to see so many people going out of their way to still see their friends and loved ones, while remaining safe and respecting the rules of social distancing. Through this, the everyday and simple occurence of seeing friends and loved ones suddenly became special. It was no longer so simple to see those close to you, but taking those extra measures to see one another was ultimately what brought many people closer together. Around this time, almost anywhere you looked on social media you could see friends driving by one another’s houses carrying birthday banners, people having social distancing “get-togethers” on their front lawns, and a never ending flow of virtual meetings, concerts, and shows.
Next, there is the issue of “panic-buying,” which many of us observed at the very beginning of the pandemic. When we think of global pandemics such as this one, many people imagine anger, and an increase in aggression. However, a study first conducted in 2012 by the Association for Psychological Science suggested that acute stress actually increases prosocial behaviour in humans. The study found that participants who had experienced acute social stress, brought on by a standardized laboratory stressor, engaged in more prosocial behaviour such as trust, trustworthiness, and sharing, in comparison to the control group, who did not experience any social stress.
The researchers ultimately concluded that acute stress in humans leads to more prosocial behaviour, used as a stress-buffering behaviour for humans, suggesting that global issues, like pandemics, may in fact bring out positive changes in our communities. More recently, there have been stories about people reaching out to others to provide resources, mental health aid, and overall support to one another.
Could it be that this pandemic has not induced an increase in antisocial behaviour, but on the contrary, a significant rise in prosocial behaviour among our communities? The amount of effort that many people have put into staying connected during this time is important to recognize, and to help us see that in these times that can be upsetting and stressful, there is always a positive aspect to be seen.
About the Author
Logan is a grade 12 student in the IB Diploma Program at Monarch Park Collegiate. In her spare time she likes painting, going for bike rides, and baking bread. She loves English, math and biology. In the future she wants to pursue a career in health sciences.