Thread by @ProfJohnDrury

1/8 What is the psychology of physical distancing?

Why might the people we care about be at greatest risk?

#COVID19

2/8

Physical distancing is antithetical to a basic self-process - the tendency to try to get closer to ingroup members.

@novelli_david shows this in the '2 chairs' experiment, with behavioural measures.

(Read on for moderators of this effect)

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.134…

3/8

The findings of the '2 chairs' study have been replicated in numerous student projects, and complemented by field studies also showing the tendency to get physically closer to in-group members:

journals.plos.org/plosone/articl…

4/8

Findings show that we try to get closer to people when they are ingroup members.

Put differently, as well as maintaining 'personal space', *we seek to share common identity space*

The predictions were derived from self-categorisation theory.

5/8

This basic self-process also helps explain findings that:

There is often greater atmosphere in the more crowded locations at events: journals.plos.org/plosone/articl…

We can feel safer in crowded events when we are among in-group members: pnas.org/content/111/25…

6/8

The critical role of the self means that regulations around physical distancing need to be expressed in terms of strong identity-congruent norms, to moderate this process of proximity-seeking:

#COVID19

7/8

Thus, physical distancing is:

For our greater good
For our public health
For keeping those we care about safe
In line with our values
To support our health and care workers

#COVID19

8/8

Researchgate (i.e. free) version of @novelli_david's '2 chairs' study of the identity basis of physical proximity-seeking can be found here:

researchgate.net/publication/26…

#COVID19

The basic self-process also helps explain findings that:

Pedestrian flow is shaped by attempts by group members to maintain close distance together as they walk:
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rs…