Dodsworth, Laura, Ahearne, Gemma 
ORCID: 0000-0003-2421-1227, Dingwall, Robert, Easthope, Lucy, Riordan, Michael and Townsend, Ellen
(2024)
The Three Rs of Fear Messaging in a Global Pandemic: Recommendations, Ramifications and Remediation
Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy: an international journal of theory and practice, 31 (2).
p. 2972.
ISSN 1063-3995, 1099-0879
Abstract
<h4>Introduction</h4>We consider the UK Independent Scientific Pandemic Insights Group on Behaviours' (SPI-B) support for fear messaging during the global COVID-19 pandemic, evaluate the consequences and make recommendations for the future.<h4>Analysis</h4>Using evidence from published documents, we show that SPI-B supported the use of fear messaging during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is inconsistent with the extant psychological literature and contrary to the disaster planning literature. The recommendations regarding fear messaging may have had harmful ramifications and impacts, especially for young people.<h4>Conclusion</h4>We recommend that a wider multidisciplinary expertise is employed to deal effectively, ethically and holistically with future crises. Plans for future pandemics must include meaningful engagement with the public, particularly children and young people.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | COVID-19, ethics, fear, pandemic, psychology |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences > School of Law and Social Justice |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 22 Apr 2024 08:37 |
| Last Modified: | 28 Feb 2026 15:25 |
| DOI: | 10.1002/cpp.2972 |
| Open Access URL: | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/c... |
| Related Websites: | |
| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3180484 |
| Disclaimer: | The University of Liverpool is not responsible for content contained on other websites from links within repository metadata. Please contact us if you notice anything that appears incorrect or inappropriate. |
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