Persuasion and Pandemic

The corona virus pandemic which hit our world in December, 2019 has been associated with a lot of anxiety, fear and panic. As experts realized the virus is widely spread through contact, a lot of restrictions on social contact were initiated into our world. The use of persuasion, directly or indirectly has been very important in stabilizing affairs and guiding individuals to abide by corona virus disease precautions. Persuasion can be referred to as an attempt to alter or modify an individual behavior, belief, values or attitude by using messages or communications without threat. Although, the internet and social media has helped people in adjusting to hard shifts of the pandemic, persuasion has been very instrumental in getting people to modify attitudes to adjust to Covid-19 shifts. Fortunately, nations are easing Covid 19 limitations, with some minimum amount of increase in Covid-19 cases and the introduction of Covid19 vaccine. The masses want to go back too quickly to their previous life; however, the pandemic is still lingering in our midst. This discourse employs concrete persuasion theories such as social judgment theory, cognitive dissonance theory and elaboration likelihood theory to reflect on how this lapse can be rectified. Then finally, elaborates on how persuasive messages can be utilized to prepare the world for a life beyond Covid-19. This will guide in the work of social scientist, stakeholders, epidemiologists, social thinkers and policy makers.