Inequalities and identity processes in crises: Recommendations for facilitating safe response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Templeton, Anne; Tekin Guven, Selin; Hoerst, Carina; Vestergren, Sara; Davidson, Louise; Ballentyne, Susie; Madsen, Hannah; Choudhury, Sanjeedah

doi:10.1111/bjso.12400

Inequalities and identity processes in crises: Recommendations for facilitating safe response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Templeton, Anne; Tekin Guven, Selin; Hoerst, Carina; Vestergren, Sara; Davidson, Louise; Ballentyne, Susie; Madsen, Hannah; Choudhury, Sanjeedah

Authors

Anne Templeton

Selin Tekin Guven

Carina Hoerst

Sara Vestergren s.vestergren@keele.ac.uk

Louise Davidson

Susie Ballentyne

Hannah Madsen

Sanjeedah Choudhury

Abstract

Structural inequalities and identity processes are pivotal to understanding public response to COVID-19. We discuss how identity processes can be used to promote community-level support, safe normative behaviour, and increase compliance with guidance. However, we caution how government failure to account for structural inequalities can alienate vulnerable groups, inhibit groups from being able to follow guidance, and lead to the creation of new groups in response to illegitimate treatment. Moreover, we look ahead to the longitudinal impacts of inequalities during pandemics and advise government bodies should address identity-based inequalities to mitigate negative relations with the public and subsequent collective protest.

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	Jun 25, 2020
Online Publication Date	Jun 25, 2020
Publication Date	2020-07
Publicly Available Date	May 30, 2023
Journal	British Journal of Social Psychology
Print ISSN	0144-6665
Publisher	Wiley
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	59
Issue	3
Pages	674 - 685
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1111/bjso.12400
Publisher URL	https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bjso.12400