The Atlantic Daily: The People who Still Aren't Taking This Seriously
Why are people still going out? And how can you convince them not to?
https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2020/03/coronavirus-tips-the-atlantic-daily/608440/
The NIH director warns that were on an
exponential curve, one that could place us only about eight days behind Italy. So why are people still going out? And how can you convince them not to? Wash your hands. Dont touch your face. Dont go to the bar. Dont go anywhere at all. Wash your hands again.
Its a lot. Were currently participating in
the worlds largest natural experiment in behavior change. And, as
last weekends partying showed, some people just arent willing to commit,
whether out of selfishness or ignorance. For the loved ones of those refusing to comply, this creates a moral and practical quandary: How do you convince a particularly stubborn relative to take the coronavirus pandemic seriously? For starters, two Wharton psychologists, Adam Grant and Reb Rebele,
argue that moral responsibility can be a powerful motivator.
Also here to help is our staff writer Joe Pinsker, who asked a few experts to weigh in. They suggested the following:
(Gently) remind people its not all about them.
Avoid numbers; tell stories.
Dont just ask people not to do somethingask them to do something else.
Dont forget to be nice.
For further explanationand even a prewritten script you can use on that difficult relativeread
Joes comprehensive guide.