The paper toilet NO protects the coronavirus covid-19, but the bulk purchases have occurred in many parts of the world.
The scene is repeated around the world, customers have left the supermarket shelves for toilet paper empty, amid panic about the new covid-19 coronavirus.
The roll of paper frenzy transcends cultural barriers and has even led to violent clashes that have gone viral on social media. But why?
For some experts the explanation is in game theory: if everyone buys only what they need, there is no shortage. But if some people start panicking, the best strategy is to do the same to make sure we don’t miss out.
But that theory does not explain everything: the paper toilet NO protects the covid-19 and bulk purchases have occurred with other key products such as canned food.
“I THINK IT PROBABLY COMES FROM THE DRAMATIC IMAGES SPREAD ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WHICH ARE VERY CLEAR: THE PACKAGES ARE VERY RECOGNIZABLE AND HAVE BECOME A SYMBOL OF SAFETY IN PEOPLE’S MINDS,” SAID STEVEN TAYLOR, AUTHOR OF “THE PANDEMIC PSYCHOLOGY ”.
“PEOPLE FEEL THE NEED TO DO SOMETHING TO KEEP THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES SAFE, BECAUSE WHAT ELSE CAN THEY DO OTHER THAN WASH THEIR HANDS AND ISOLATE THEMSELVES?” ADDED THIS PROFESSOR OF PSYCHIATRY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA.
It also evoked another theory of evolution: aversion to those things that we dislike, exacerbated by the threat of infection.
“And I think this is one of the reasons why people have gone through the paper toilet , because it is a means to avoid unpleasant things, ” Taylor said.
Feeling of control
Economists have also hinted at the ” zero risk bias ” theory, which leads people to completely eliminate a small, more superficial risk rather than do something more substantial to reduce a higher risk.
“WE WANT TO FEEL THAT WE ARE IN CONTROL, WITH LIMITED RESOURCES,” EXPLAINED FARASAT BOKHARI, A SPECIALIST IN HEALTH ECONOMICS AT THE BRITISH UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA.
“SO WE BUY SOMETHING CHEAP, THAT WE CAN STORE AND THAT DEEP DOWN WE KNOW WE ARE GOING TO USE IN ANY WAY,” HE ADDED.
According to Bokhari, non-perishable products – such as frozen, canned or instant soup – could also be stored, even though these are not the family’s favorite dishes. But, in addition to their higher cost, there is a fear that if the situation improves they will eventually end up in the trash.
Unlike the A (H1N1) pandemic in 2009, the new coronavirus is also spreading on social media, which for Taylor has both positive and negative aspects.
“THAT HAS ALLOWED THE MASSIVE DIFFUSION OF DRAMATIC IMAGES AND VIDEOS AROUND THE WORLD, EXACERBATING THE FEELING OF THREAT AND URGENCY,” HE SAID.
On the other hand, “social networks can be a good source of support, especially in the case of voluntary quarantine.”