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When you hear of someone getting very sick or even dying from #coronavirus / #COVID19, do you instinctively try to distinguish yourself from that person? E.g., "Oh, that person is 20 years older than I am," or "Oh, that person has chronic lung disease."
In this (excellent) @nytimes column, @JenSeniorNY looks at this phenomenon of "psychological distancing" -- and explains why it's not a good thing. (Disclosure: I am featured.)
https://nyti.ms/3egnaNQ
#coronavirus #COVID19
https://nyti.ms/3egnaNQ
#coronavirus #COVID19
Interesting - early responses fall into two basic camps:
1. "Sometimes. [A] normal form of self-preservation or a way to rationalize or soothe the self."
2. "[T]he opposite. "They're not that old," or "They have zero comorbidities. It can happen to anyone."
1. "Sometimes. [A] normal form of self-preservation or a way to rationalize or soothe the self."
2. "[T]he opposite. "They're not that old," or "They have zero comorbidities. It can happen to anyone."
I should state that I don't judge people who engage in psychological distancing - since, as I mentioned to @JenSeniorNY, I used to do it all the time too (until I got sick with #coronavirus/ #COVID19 myself).
