We are officially in a ‘pandemic’, the word itself has the word ‘panic’ within. Yet we are being told not to panic, and ironically one the outcomes is panic buying. As you can see in this picture, toilet paper is flying off the shelves, along with many other products, such as face masks, hand sanitiser and non-perishable foods.
So why do we panic buy? 🧻🧻🧻
1. Fear – rightfully so many of us are fearful of the current coronavirus pandemic. Fear is often exacerbated when outcomes are uncertain. We all tend to operate best in equilibrium, and so our innate response is often to act in ways to reduce our levels of fear. One way to do this is to take action to control what we can when so much is uncertain. So stocking up on life’s essentials such as toilet paper is something we can control and can go a long way to reducing our level of stress.
2. The ‘bandwagon effect‘ – refers to doing everything that everyone else is doing. There is an innate human need to do what we see other people are doing. The bandwagon effect essentially means that we rely on others judgement when making decisions instead of making our own assessment of a situation and the associated facts. So if we see other people buying lots of toilet paper, they must have a good reason and so I should be doing that too. Today with social media the bandwagon effect can have a far greater impact on our behaviour.
So ‘panic buying’ is actually a normal psychological response. However pause for a moment before you go shopping, and consider that the Department of Homeland Security in the US recommends that we have a two week supply of food and water for a pandemic, and have on hand basic health supplies and a one month supply of prescription drugs. So chances are that that we may have everything we need already sitting in our homes.
#selfhelpsam #sammarchetta #psychologist #thepsychview
the psych view by SAM MARCHETTA 