Even as the Delta variant surges across Ohio, to a large extent mask wearing remains recommended but not required.
Jennifer Taber is an assistant professor in Kent State University’s Department of Psychological Sciences and studies risk perception.
She says that based on prior research, people may not want to wear masks because they believe their risk level for contracting COVID is lower now especially among vaccinated people.
“They don't think it's very likely that they'll get COVID, or they think that if they do, it won't be that bad," Taber said. "And probably for unvaccinated people, the thought process might be similar.”
Taber says that unvaccinated people might perceive the vaccine has a higher risk level than COVID because of distrust in government and pharmaceuticals.
Gov. Mike DeWine and other officials are urging people to put masks back on, but it’s unclear just how effective these recommendations are.
John Updegraff, also from Kent State Department of Psychology, says social norms have affected mask wearing in communities, going all the way back to the beginning of the pandemic.
“People are generally more likely to do things that they see other people doing, and they know that other people advocate to be done," Updegraff said.
Updegraff says that people become more comfortable wearing masks when it is a requirement rather than a personal choice.
On the flip side, masks becoming mandated could trigger the psychological reactance phenomenon. That’s when someone does the opposite of what they’re told because they feel their freedom of choice is threatened.
