Coronavirus (COVID‐19), pandemic psychology and the fractured society: a sociological case for critique, foresight and action

Abstract

In the wake of the COVID‐19 pandemic and mass lockdowns that continue to shake the world, sociologists of health and illness have been advised to undertake research only when the time feels right and to avoid premature evaluation. Such advice makes sense, especially amidst an epidemic of interpretation that has resulted in substandard work. However, this contribution argues that when trying to understand and perhaps analyse early societal responses to COVID‐19, medical sociology comprises a toolbox of ideas that are ‘good to think with’ and should not be ignored. Indeed, our community is well placed to make its presence felt sooner rather than later as we collectively live through a deepening critical situation. Divided into two sections, this piece first offers a critical appreciation of Philip Strong’s classic essay on ‘epidemic psychology’, noting some insights and posing research questions for pandemic times. Second, going from micro‐ to macro‐sociological concerns, it builds on Graham Scambler’s calls for not only critique but also foresight and action within a ‘fractured society’ comprising class‐generated fissures and tensions. Early interventions from other leading medical sociologists and publicly engaged intellectuals are also cited when asking ‘what sort of society are we heading towards and what sort of world do we want to share?’

Degrading Bodies in Pandemic Times: Politicizing Cruelty During the COVID-19 and Obesity Crises

“…Other problems, noted above, included: the use of symbolically violent imagery, CR's professed dependency on donations from its intended student audience despite backing from wealthy sponsors, ill-informed comments from readers and other contributors, and possible alienation of overweight/ obese/fat readers who might feel especially vulnerable in the time of COVID-19. On the latter point, denouncers and denounced may have been more similar than different not only given the scale of the putative obesity crisis but also early reports in North America of widespread fear and anxiety about coronavirus (see Monaghan, 2020). The possibility (statistical probability) of an elective affinity emerging from shared embodied concerns was not directly investigated during this study.…”

“…Such degradation evidently found quick expression following the COVID-19 outbreak, with digital media serving as an efficient channel for hate and abuse. Arguably, the acceleration of 'digital sociality' during the COVID-19 emergency (Keleman Saxena and Johnson, 2020), a vector for 'epidemic' or 'pandemic psychology' (Monaghan, 2020;Strong, 1990) amidst other declared crises (e.g. economic, interracial, geopolitical), could provide the conditions of possibility for intensified politicized cruelty.…”

The COVID‐19 pandemic and cause of death

“…This new transparency has already appeared in areas such as health inequalities (Bambra et al, 2020 ; van Dorn et al, 2020 ; Herrick, 2020 ) and the ‘fractured society’ (Monaghan, 2020 ; Scambler, 2020 ). This article draws attention to another aspect of social life that has been thrown into sharp relief and that is the way death is classified and explained.…”

Review on the Consumers’ Response to the Covid-19 Crisis in Latvia

“…As sociologists note, the Covid-19 situation evokes associations with the following keywords of social theory: risk, fear, panic, crisis, trust, which manifested themselves in one way or another in customer behavior (Ward, 2020). Sociological interpretations of a pandemic touch on concepts such as fear, explanation and moralization, as well as recommended action (Monaghan, 2020), which applies not only to food purchases but to all areas of life. Namely, in times of uncertainty, the population develops fear and insecurity, which accordingly requires explanation and guidelines for action.…”