Effects of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic on Social Behaviours: From a Social Dilemma Perspective
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Technium Social Sciences Journal
Vol. 7, 312-320, May 2020
ISSN. 2668-7798
SOCIAL SCIENCES JOURNAL www.techniumscience.com
Effects of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic on Social
Behaviours: From a Social Dilemma Perspective
Gabriel Hoh Teck Ling
Senior Lecturer (PhD), Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of Built
Environment and Surveying, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
gabriel.ling c'iutm.my
Christina Mee Chyong Ho
Independent researcher
christinaho88@c'iyahoo.com
Abstract. The health crisis of the COVID-19 outbreak has global impacts on humanity and the
economy. Such pandemic effects also influence human behaviour; issues of panic buying
(overbuying) and noncompliance with government orders and law among individuals are
evident. However, the underlying understanding of such behaviours due to the pandemic remains
unclear. Therefore, this perspective paper adopts the social dilemma theory and microeconomics
concepts to analyse and explain the effects of COVID-19 on social behavioural reactions. It
attempts to address the questions of what and why are the behaviours of individuals shown during
the coronavirus pandemic and showcase how the theory is associated with the current social
phenomena. Real scenarios based on media reporting from the sociodemographic context of
Malaysia, concerning the following issues; (i) competition over daily essentials; (ii) self-honesty
of individuals; and (iii) adherence to government policies and measures enforcement
(governance) were discussed. A conceptual framework was developed to illustrate
interrelationships between social dilemma concepts and the phenomena. In essence, due to fear,
uncertainty, and greed, self-interest and opportunistic (defective/unethical) behaviours of most
individuals prevailing over societal collective interest amid the pandemic have been prevalently
observed in the above instances, although a cooperative choice can eventually result in a better
outcome for everyone. Not only do these non-cooperative behaviours of individuals create
inconveniences, dissatisfactions, and other forms of negative externalities, they also incentivise
others to act selfishly, if no restrictions are imposed, which may eventually cause government
intervention failures. This paper demonstrates the relevancy of the social dilemmas theory in
better understanding fundamental human behavioural reactions amid the health crisis and the
importance of incorporating the findings into government policymaking. These
sociopsychological considerations help the government formulate holistic measures, namely
stringent sanctions and monitoring enforcement, as well as incentivising cooperative and
compliant behaviours of the public, which then contribute to curbing the COVID-19 pandemic
more effectively.
Keywords. Effects of COVID-19, Malaysia, Pandemic, Self-Interest and Opportunism, Social
Behaviours, Social Dilemma.
1. Introduction
The global health crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic has unprecedented social and economic
impacts [1]. Positive confirmed cases and death toll are increasing daily, spanning over 200
countries, where both numbers, as of 20 April 2020, have surpassed 2 million and 100,000
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Effects of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic on Social Behaviours: From a Social Dilemma Perspective
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