Thread by @businessinsider

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People are dealing with the coronavirus by panic-buying items like batteries, hand sanitizers and more.

But here's how panic-buying toilet paper in particular has taken over the world, and why.

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Toilet paper panic-buying started in Hong Kong as early as mid-February, with an armed gang robbing a shop of 600 rolls in a day.

Authorities said the buying wasn’t the result of a shortage, but instead blamed false online rumors.

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Australia has also experienced a #toiletpapercrisis, with one tabloid circulating an issue with eight extra blank pages, described as “limited edition one-ply toilet newspaper sheets” on the front page.

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A fight broke out in an Australian supermarket over the #toiletpapercrisis, which led to police having to intervene.

A woman asked for “just one packet” from a second woman with at least four large packets in her cart.

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And the US hasn’t been immune – police were also called to a Costco in California after a large group of customers turned rowdy after finding toilet paper, paper towels and water had gone out of stock.

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In the UK, an amusement arcade owner swapped toys in the grabber machine for toilet paper and hand sanitizer.

"It's a bit of light relief with everything that's going on," he said. "Hopefully it will raise a smile, which I think everybody needs."

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So what’s making people panic-buy?

Experts say it could be a behavioral reaction to “the loss of psychological control” over the pandemic.

They say it could also come from a lack of clear direction from authorities.

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Why specifically toilet paper?

A series of studies found people are motivated to buy utilitarian, practical goods in situations they don’t feel like they have much control over.

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Kelly Goldsmith, a former contestant on Survivor, also says hoarding is the result of fears over health, economic stability, and the desire to protect one’s self.

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In times of plenty, people value altruistic behavior because it makes them feel moral and helpful.

But that tends to take a backseat when experiencing a personal threat, which is why the #coronavirus is sending people into “self-protective mode.”

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Here’s what you can do to battle stress and panic around the outbreak, including ways to educate yourself about #coronavirus.

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