Disease History and Life History Predict Behavioral Control of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
It is puzzling why countries do not all implement stringent behavioral control measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 even though preventive behaviors have been proven to be the only effective means to stop the pandemic. We provide a novel evolutionary life history explanation whereby pathogenic and parasitic prevalence represents intrinsic rather than extrinsic mortality risk that drives slower life history strategies and the related disease control motivation in all animals but especially humans. Our theory was tested and supported based on publicly available data involving over 150 countries. Countries having a higher historical prevalence of infectious diseases are found to adopt slower life history strategies that are related to prompter COVID-19 containment actions by the government and greater compliance by the population. Findings could afford governments novel insight into the design of more effective COVID-19 strategies that are based on enhancing a sense of control, vigilance, and compliance in the general population.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Lu, HJ; Liu, YY; O, J; Guo, S; Zhu, N; Chen, BB; Lansford, JE; Chang, L
Published Date
- January 2021
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 19 / 1
Start / End Page
- 14747049211000714 -
PubMed ID
- 33752457
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1474-7049
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 1474-7049
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1177/14747049211000714
Language
- eng