Overcoming mask reactance (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 4: Ethics 
Prelims level:Not much 
Mains level: Psychological factor

Context:

• Let’s face it, masks are unpleasant. 
• They are unpleasant because we cannot see each other’s facial expressions. They are also unpleasant because they give off a morose hospital-like vibe. 
• Considering the current context, we are pretty sure you know that we are not talking about fancy Halloween masks.
• At the cost of stating the obvious, we are talking about masks that cover our mouth and nostrils to protect ourselves against Covid-19 microbes. 
• The nostril covering part is the most unpleasant for as it means that we have to breathe inside a tiny space which somehow can make us feel quite trapped.

Psychological factor:

• The term reactance was coined by psychologist Jack Brehm in 1966. 
• Psychological reactance occurs when we feel our freedom is being suppressed by an authority and just to reassert our freedom, we act in the opposite direction to what the authority dictates. 

Some suggestions:

First suggestions:

• To suppressing someone’s freedom is denying them agency. By agency, we mean the autonomy to make our own decisions. 
• Therefore, if we frame rules to wear masks as a choice and not as diktats, then we will not be denying people’s agency. 

Second suggestions:

• To wearing a mask is an external cue that signals forced compliance. Researchers showed that impression management plays an important factor in people’s reactance. 
• To put it simply, people do not like to give the impression of being compliant and therefore not wearing a mask is kind of showing to the world that they are individualistic and independent. 
• One way around this is to help them assert their individual identity by designing a variety of masks rather than boring white and blue ones. 

Other suggestions:

• Lastly, reactance is largely associated with activities that engender fun and pleasure.
• For many extroverted personalities who are getting restless at home, there is not just the reactance against masks but also an overall reactance against being indoors.
• Therefore, authority figures have to figure out a way to communicate that they have no intention of curbing fun and pleasure. 

Way forward:

• We do acknowledge the frustration of a majority of readers of this article about why do we need to manipulate the framing of messages, create special designer masks, or project a fun-vibe to overcome reactance when the obvious and sensible thing to do is to wear a mask. 
• However, there will always be individuals who are more reactant than others and we need to protect them from getting Covid to protect us from getting it.

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1) 1. It was founded in 1889 as Mohun Bagan Sporting Club, the club's football section is one of the oldest football clubs in India and Asia. 
2. July 29 is celebrated every year as Mohun Bagan day to commemorate the team’s famous IFA Shield triumph in 1911. 
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A.   1 only
B.   2 only
C.   Both 1 and 2
D.   None 

Answer: C
Mains Questions:
Q.1)Reactance occurs when we feel our freedom is being suppressed by an authority and just to reassert our freedom, we act in the opposite direction to what the authority dictates. Comment.