Our channel asked the psychologist to explain Yakuts’ behavior
Yakutia 24 TV channel: Residents of Yakutia buying household essentials, cereals and canned goods in big amounts. Despite the regional authorities’ statements that there are enough products in the republic and no shortage is expected, people keep sweeping certain goods from supermarket shelves. And such a situation is observed all over the world.
TV channel “Yakutia 24” turned to candidate of psychological sciences, associate professor of the NEFU Psychology Institute Maria Nafanailova and asked her to clarify why the coronavirus pandemic affects the behavior of people in different parts of the world in the same way.
“This is a normal reaction to a rather serious, non-standard problem. People lose their sense of control, and during stress, our body produces an adaptation reaction. In this case, everyone begins to follow the news, collect materials about the disease and discuss on social networks. This gives rise to panic when people impulsively empty store shelves,” Maria explains.
She adds that in fact all these actions are aimed at removing anxiety and creating the illusion of control over the situation. People have lost a sense of control and are trying to regain it.
The overwhelming majority of the Russian population still remembers the collapse of the Soviet regime and the resulting shortage of goods. The echoes of the economic and political crises of past years have led people to play safe and find some stability: “No one wants the same situation as empty shelves at the stores. Past experience also affects.”
Why toilet paper and buckwheat? As for toilet paper and buckwheat, rational thinking suggests that you need to take exactly those things that will always be needed, and they will not deteriorate. “Toilet paper is the very thing necessary under any conditions, and buckwheat, perhaps of all products, seems more nutritious,” says Maria Nafanailova.
In this situation, social networks did a lot. According to the psychologist, people watching others buy and empty shelves in stores start to panic and worry. They have a fear that the goods may run out, so they begin to imitate others to secure themselves. “I am inclined to think that people tend to trust each other on the net and automatically imitate others: since everyone is buying toilet paper and buckwheat, this is what should be done. In general, this is adequate behavior for such a situation. This is a more common behavior for more anxious and suspicious people,” she said.
Earlier, we reported that Yakutia was fully provided with basic foodstuffs. The audit was conducted in all areas of Yakutia. Stocks range from two months to a year. Work is also underway on the timely delivery of socially significant goods.