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Haley Barr

Mrs. Jackie Burr, Instructor

English 2010, Section 3

May 3rd, 2021

Society’s Behavioral Shift in Service During COVID-19

Society's key focus during the pandemic of wearing masks, staying indoors, and

discovering a vaccine relied on the cooperation of communities placing much strain on them.

The focus of society shifted greatly to their own lives rather than to those who may need their

assistance. This lead to depression, angst, and lack of social interaction to keep communities

thriving. Community service brings about behavioral changes in benefit for those who struggle,

statistically and through personal accounts. How has quarantine affected opportunities in service

to society? Can it still be accomplished even as quarantine has affected these opportunities?

Service may look a little different currently but can nevertheless be just as efficient to society’s

behavior even with a few small shifts in daily lives.

Since the start of quarantine, there have been massive adjustments in the everyday

routines of each person, which has affected their social interactions with one another, limited to

the option of a few sources such as technology. Polarization in political parties has also put a

strain on communities within states and shows hostility against those of opposing viewpoints.

Yet, Cornelson notes that it was not hostility between the individuals towards one another, but

hostility between the communities as a whole, which had to be caused by their environment

(Cornelson 11). “Past experience has shown that voluntary cooperation and public trust are key

ingredients of a successful response to a public health emergency,” (Cetron & Landwirth 11). Yet

studies show that it is the social and cooperative side of communities that keeps them healthy.
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Studies also demonstrate effective methods to combat public health emergencies, such as how

voluntary cooperation and service within the community is needed to keep the communities from

falling economically. It must be implemented by the people themselves, by their own will and

desire rather than the forces of the government. So many mandatory changes revolve around the

common person’s life to have a “mandatory act of service to your fellow neighbor” mandate.

Financial difficulties have thrown people into a flux from their usual schedules; however, the

difficulties only provide more ways that people can serve others, even within the confinements

of their own home or even virtually. It takes effort from each individual who is willing to break

free from the hostility of their environment to be willing to make that effort in helping their

community.

Results show a difference in the lives of individuals who do not live in their

environments of hostility. The more recorded sources that share how these events benefit people

in their personal lives, the more inspiring it can be to those who receive the service or hear about

it. It can be the most accurate way to support others. Andreas Hugentobler, a Swiss-born

theologian and a member of the C.E.B. movement in El Salvador, says himself that his

government has done little to support the states of poverty within their own country as so much

of their freedoms had been ripped away from them. (Lima 1). It was the service of local churches

and neighbors that the impoverished have been looked upon more kindly, being given food, and

have had money risen for them. It is by the acts of the communities and individuals, that there

has been some relief for those in poverty, there could not be a more crucial time to start acting

for the sake of others. Dr. Fauci, a medical graduate who has served underneath six presidents,

says it best himself, “And now is the time, if ever there was one, for us to care selflessly about

one another.” (qt. in Lima 2).

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More personal experiences of

community service have been demonstrated

even amongst the youth of the world. While

youth try hard to survive through quarantine,

much change happens within their lives

which can prove to be too much for them to

even struggle with at the moment. Yet

ministry leaders have shown consideration

for them all the same as they have provided

counsel and support for the youth. This has

inspired the youth to step up their service

around the home, supporting their families

through chores and other interactions.

(Long). Cooperating service actively shows

improvement in the lives of youth. Work

from individuals can inspire others to

continue on that same route of service.

Serving others according to fig. 1 is

completed by diligent practice of the

ministry benefiting the youth’s financial and

emotional situations. By small acts of

service, change arises.

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Lastly, the effects of quarantine changed the daily lives of everyone, yet it was fought

against naturally through the adaptive behavior of human nature. Seitz described the

evolutionary process of humans to be constantly changing even against the usual behavior of

human nature. “Yet it was our cognitive adaptations that led to the recent conquest of the

infectious diseases that felled our ancestors in great numbers,” (Seitz, 7). With each step forward

in the fight against COVID-19, it is adaptive behavior and collective efforts in society that truly

unite and benefit society in the end. Human nature’s role to act against the virus and the change

is truly what helps them process the instability in their routines. The behavioral shift seen in the

world’s reaction to the pandemic has been greatly influenced and changed since the times of the

ancestors who suffered during previous pandemics (Seitz, 8), meaning, essentially, that

evolutionary changes are causing people to become more resilient than in the past.

With social division throughout the world it has been even more of an obstacle for service

to be performed. Technology can certainly help someone provide service to others, but service

doesn’t inherently need to be contactless during the pandemic. Between sharing kind words,

sending someone goods, helping out with their yard work, and other uplifting activities can be

just as effective and important as the usual kinds of service we think about (Anonymous). With

our adaptive strategies in combating the pandemic’s changes, one can even serve one’s self by

consistently remaining stable within one’s own life before helping others. Self-sufficiency can

not only be effective for an individual’s life, but also for those within their community that can

use extra assistance. The effort of the individual in the community can strengthen and empower

those who truly need it, turning from a small act of a service to a greater blessing in someone’s

life.
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In conclusion, serving others is more crucial for communities now during the current

events than ever before. It can appear in many different forms, sometimes different from what we

are most familiar with, but service can only be accomplished by those who are willing to step up

to the challenge. Youth, leaders, and organizations have shown cooperation in rising to the

occasion and completing acts of service in small and simple ways. The pandemic quarantine’s

influence in society has shut the doors of service in more ways than one but has not eliminated it.

The behavioral shift in society may or may not be more selfish and close-minded to the

wellbeing of others, but through discovery of self-care and cooperation there can be change. Dr.

Fauci, a medical expert said it best himself, “And now is the time, if ever there was one, for us to

care selflessly about one another” (qt. in Lima 2).

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Works Cited

Anonymous. Personal Interview. 28 April 2021.

Cetron, Martin, and Julius Landwirth. “Public health and ethical considerations in planning for

quarantine.” The Yale journal of biology and medicine vol. 78,5 (2005): 329-34.

Cornelson, Kirsten, and Boriana Miloucheva. Political polarization, social fragmentation, and

cooperation during a pandemic. University of Toronto, Department of Economics, 2020.

“Eight Ways to Serve Other People during a Pandemic.” The United Methodist Church, 14 Sept.

2020, www.umc.org/en/content/eight-ways-to-serve-other-people-during-a-pandemic.

“How COVID-19 Has Strengthened Religious Faith.” Pew Research Center's Religion & Public

Life Project, 29 Jan. 2021,

www.pewforum.org/2021/01/27/more-americans-than-people-in-other-advanced-economi

es-say-covid-19-has-strengthened-religious-faith/.

Lima, Eduardo Campos. “As Covid-19 Crisis Grows, Latin America’s Basic Ecclesial

Communities Step up to Help.” America, vol. 222, no. 13, June 2020, p. 16. EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=mat&AN=143469892.

file:///media/fuse/drivefs-5c7179b32e8a6d92d7352ddd4ef51b13/root/ContentServer.pdf

Long-García, J. D. “GOODNEWS: Less Pizza, More Phone Calls as Youth Ministry Adapts to

Quarantine.” America, vol. 222, no. 13, June 2020, p. 15. EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=mat&AN=143469891.file:///media/fus

e/drivefs-5c7179b32e8a6d92d7352ddd4ef51b13/root/ContentServer%20(1).pdf
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Seitz, Benjamin M., et al. "The pandemic exposes human nature: 10 evolutionary insights."

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 117.45 (2020): 27767-27776.