Men, Youngsters, and Conservatives Flock to Flout Covid Rules, New Study Finds
Men, younger folk, and those with conservative views are the biggest rule-breakers when it comes to Covid-19 measures, according to fresh research from BI Norwegian Business School. The study also reveals that detailed, clear instructions can boost compliance with social distancing and hygiene rules.
Who’s Putting Everyone at Risk?
Regulating contact and upping personal hygiene – like handwashing – are key weapons against Covid-19. To crack the code on why some don’t follow rules, occupational psychologist Professor Adrian Furnham and his team examined personality traits and political views linked to breaking Covid guidelines.
- The study spanned the UK, Italy, Spain, Poland, Portugal, the US, Canada, and Mexico.
- Results showed men, younger people, extraverts, and conservatives were more likely to shrug off restrictions.
- People scoring low on neuroticism, agreeableness, and conscientiousness also flouted the rules more.
- Those with antisocial and narcissistic traits were among the worst offenders.
Longer, Clearer Rules Work Better – But It’s Still Tough
The researchers tested whether bombarding people with detailed info about Covid and why rules matter could change behaviours. The instructions included facts about the virus, rewards for compliance, and the risks of breaking rules.
Compared to standard government advice, the detailed briefing helped boost intentions to follow restrictions and improved hygiene practices. However, opposition to rules still increased over time – just less in the group receiving detailed info.
“Intentions to comply with government restrictions in the future increased in the experimental group with good hygiene behaviour also improving,” said Professor Furnham. “But social distancing slipped in both groups, though not as badly in the detailed instruction group.”
He added that social distancing is harder to maintain long term than handwashing, and individual personalities play a big role in who sticks to the rules.
Study Still Under Review
The preliminary findings were presented at a Covid-19 seminar at BI Norwegian Business School. The full research is currently under peer review and awaits publication.
