So we hear a lot of "shaming doesn't work," and of past examples of epidemics where shaming didn't work, or was counterproductive, but I'm wondering if this is over-learned like "travel bans don't work." What if the shaming relates to activity that can't easily be concealed?
Like, the shame story with HIV is clear: you attach stigma to the disease and then people don't want to get tested, or don't want to disclose their status, and they can keep engaging in risk behaviors without telling the world. How comparable is that to COVID?
I don't know the answer. I'm not pro-shame. Also, unpleasant social interactions have their own costs even when they do "work" at the margin. But I think there's been a problem where past empirical results get turned into general principles that aren't actually so general.
I am inclined to think though that shaming *might* discourage people from activities that can't really be done in true privacy, like hosting or attending large events.
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