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Can Information about Pandemics Increase Negative Attitudes toward Foreign Groups? A Case of COVID-19 Outbreak

Author

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  • Piotr Sorokowski

    (Institute of Psychology, University of Wrocław, 50-527 Wrocław, Poland)

  • Agata Groyecka

    (Institute of Psychology, University of Wrocław, 50-527 Wrocław, Poland)

  • Marta Kowal

    (Institute of Psychology, University of Wrocław, 50-527 Wrocław, Poland)

  • Agnieszka Sorokowska

    (Institute of Psychology, University of Wrocław, 50-527 Wrocław, Poland)

  • Michał Białek

    (Institute of Psychology, University of Wrocław, 50-527 Wrocław, Poland)

  • Izabela Lebuda

    (Institute of Psychology, University of Wrocław, 50-527 Wrocław, Poland)

  • Małgorzata Dobrowolska

    (Institute of Education and Communications Studies, Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland)

  • Przemysław Zdybek

    (Institute of Psychology, University of Opole, 45-001 Opole, Poland)

  • Maciej Karwowski

    (Institute of Psychology, University of Wrocław, 50-527 Wrocław, Poland)

Abstract

Pathogen threat can translate into a willingness to distance oneself from others on a psychological level. Building on this notion, we predicted that the ongoing coronavirus pandemic can affect attitudes toward foreign nationalities. We explored the intergroup consequences of the current epidemiological situation in two studies involving a total of 652 participants. In correlational Study 1, we showed a positive relationship between media exposure in the United Kingdom (UK) and in Poland, and prejudice to four foreign nationalities. Study 2 showed that negative affect toward Italians (i.e., a nation struggling with the most severe COVID-19 outbreak at the time of the study) was indirectly predicted by exposure to news about coronavirus through the increase in anxiety, but this effect was not observed when a generalized measure of prejudice was considered. Overall, our studies revealed that prejudice and anxiety are sensitive to the current epidemiological situation, and our findings suggest that the outbreak of COVID-19 may translate into severe social consequences and increased psychological distancing to nations most affected by the pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Piotr Sorokowski & Agata Groyecka & Marta Kowal & Agnieszka Sorokowska & Michał Białek & Izabela Lebuda & Małgorzata Dobrowolska & Przemysław Zdybek & Maciej Karwowski, 2020. "Can Information about Pandemics Increase Negative Attitudes toward Foreign Groups? A Case of COVID-19 Outbreak," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-10, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:12:p:4912-:d:372244
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    1. Warwick McKibbin & Roshen Fernando, 2021. "The Global Macroeconomic Impacts of COVID-19: Seven Scenarios," Asian Economic Papers, MIT Press, vol. 20(2), pages 1-30, Summer.
    2. Gabriele Prati & Luca Pietrantoni, 2016. "Knowledge, Risk Perceptions, and Xenophobic Attitudes: Evidence from Italy During the Ebola Outbreak," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 36(10), pages 2000-2010, October.
    3. John H Shaver & Chris G Sibley & Danny Osborne & Joseph Bulbulia, 2017. "News exposure predicts anti-Muslim prejudice," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(3), pages 1-19, March.
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