Attitudes towards lockdown are proving divisive in countries like US

COVID-19 is a new virus that has threaten the whole world. Taking into account the
results of research around the globe, it is an infectious illness which means it
propagates between humans. Because of this reason new measures have been
implemented, such as lockdown, in order to keep social welfare. However not
everyone has shared the same mindset about tackling the pandemic.

According to the article, opinions about the implementations are correlated with
voting patterns. Specifically, in US Republicans are less likely to believe in the disease
than Democrats. In fact, there has been multiple manifestations against previously
mentioned proposals. Another reason why many people protest is due to the fact
myths or disbeliefs around the virus. Indeed, even high-educated Republicans, who are
supposed to be more related with evidence-based thoughts, think COVID-19 is false.
The explanation is they do not see the virus as a scientific issue but as a political one.

Regarding decision making, human beings can be influenced by multiple factors.

Firstly, emotions play a pivotal role in making choices. In addition, psychologists
highlights that the process of reasoning is not for taking the decision but just to justify
it. Secondly, our brain, particularly and structured called amygdala which is the
biological base of fear. In many experiments scientists report the bigger the amygdala
is the more conservative political attitudes are. Furthermore, if people feel safe, voting
decisions become more liberal. Finally, social implications, sometimes we make
decisions based on the impact it will have in our relationship rather than in what we
trust. An example is a lot of Republicans has changed their minds when the virus has
affected people surrounding them.

Laura Redondo Fidalgo