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Pandemic related changes in social interaction are associated with changes in automatic approach-avoidance behaviour.
Henwood, Amanda; Rinck, Mike; Krpan, Dario.
  • Henwood A; Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), London, UK. a.j.henwood@lse.ac.uk.
  • Rinck M; Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
  • Krpan D; Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), London, UK.
Sci Rep ; 13(1): 4637, 2023 03 21.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2262696
ABSTRACT
People's natural tendencies to either approach or avoid different stimuli in their environment are considered fundamental motivators of human behaviour. There is a wealth of research exploring how changes in approach and avoidance motivational orientations impact behaviour with consequences for wellbeing. However, research has seldom explored this relationship in reverse. The COVID-19 pandemic offered a unique opportunity to explore whether widespread changes in social behaviour are associated with changes in automatic approach-avoidance tendencies over time. We gathered online survey data on people's adherence to 7 of the prescribed social restrictions set out by the UK government and people's automatic approach-avoidance tendencies in response to different stimuli (sad/happy faces and social scenes) at three time points during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reduced-overall-interaction (digital and in person) was found to be significantly associated with faster avoidance relative to approach of sad faces. The results suggest that automatic approach-avoidance tendencies may function to protect people against the typically negative experience of reduced social interaction, with important implications for understanding public resilience during times of crisis, and beyond.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Social Interaction / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: Sci Rep Year: 2023 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S41598-023-31447-5

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Social Interaction / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: Sci Rep Year: 2023 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S41598-023-31447-5