Behavioural Science and the Pandemic
Analysis20 Juli 2020

Behavioural Science and the Pandemic

There were two narratives that emerged in the week before we locked down on 23rd March that could go some way to explaining why the UK was relatively slow to lockdown. One was the idea of “herd immunity” - that the virus was always going to spread throughout the population to some extent, and that should be allowed to happen to build up immunity.

That theory may have been based on a misunderstanding of how this particular virus behaved.

The second narrative was based on the idea of “behavioural fatigue”. This centred around the notion that the public will only tolerate a lockdown for so long so it was crucial to wait for the right moment to initiate it. Go too soon, and you might find that people would not comply later on.

It turns out that this theory was also wrong. And based on a fundamental misunderstanding of human behaviour.

Despite photos of packed parks, crammed beaches and VE day conga lines, on the whole the British public complied beyond most people’s expectations.

So what informed the government’s decision making?In this programme we ask, what is “behavioural fatigue”, where did it come from, how much influence did it have on the UK’s late lockdown, and where does Nudge theory fit into the narrative?

Presenter: Sonia Sodha Producer: Gemma Newby Editor: Jasper Corbett

Avsnitt(389)

Unsure about Sure Start

Unsure about Sure Start

Sure Start was one of the flagship policies of the Labour years, and the Coalition Government has just underlined its commitment to keeping it going. But in this edition of Analysis Fran Abrams asks a...

11 Juli 201127min

The SNP and Scotland

The SNP and Scotland

No university tuition fees, free personal care for the elderly, reduced prescription charges. In all sorts of ways, Scotland seems to have kept a level of public service the rest of the UK is denied. ...

4 Juli 201128min

Is America Doomed?

Is America Doomed?

Justin Webb, the BBC's former North America Editor, regards the United States with affection and respect. But he is worried that America is in denial about the extent of its financial problems and the...

28 Juni 201128min

Hague's Middle East

Hague's Middle East

"The eruption of democracy movements across the Middle East and North Africa is, even in its early stages, the most important development of the early 21st century." These were the words of Foreign Se...

20 Juni 201128min

Egypt's New Islamists

Egypt's New Islamists

Edward Stourton asks if the Egyptian revolution spells the end of old-style Islamism. As groups like the Muslim Brotherhood embrace democracy, how will they - and Egypt - change? The overthrow of Hosn...

13 Juni 201128min

Goodbye the Golden Eggs of Banking?

Goodbye the Golden Eggs of Banking?

Time was when the City of London and the financial services industry generally were the apple of most politicians' eyes. The fabulous wealth they generated and taxes they paid seemed to set Britain on...

6 Juni 201128min

Unhealthy Expectations?

Unhealthy Expectations?

Is our NHS debate avoiding the key issue? The talk is of another reorganisation of the NHS and greater efficiencies enabling the NHS in England to face the future. But the overall challenge goes much ...

30 Maj 201127min

Blue Labour

Blue Labour

Labour's traditional working class supporters are abandoning the party in their droves. But can Labour win them back without alienating the middle-class voters it needs to win the next election? David...

21 Mars 201128min

Populärt inom Politik & nyheter

motiv
aftonbladet-krim
p3-krim
spar
flashback-forever
rss-viva-fotboll
svenska-fall
rss-sanning-konsekvens
rss-krimstad
aftonbladet-daily
svd-dokumentara-berattelser-2
rss-vad-fan-hande
rss-krimreportrarna
rss-frandfors-horna
krimmagasinet
rss-aftonbladet-krim
olyckan-inifran
dagens-eko
fordomspodden
svd-ledarredaktionen