Pandemic expert explains why people are panic-buying toilet paper during the coronavirus crisis
A "built-in alarm system" that keeps us safe from danger could be the reason for people mass-buying toilet roll during the coronavirus, acording to a psychologist.
As people become scared by the thought of catching coronavirus, their sensitivity to disgust increases, the Dailly Mail reports, citing Steven Taylor at the University of British Columbia.
This causes them to buy products to keep them clean in large quantities – not just toilet paper but disinfectant wipes and hand sanitisers.
Dr Taylor, who specialises in behaviour during pandemics, has called toilet paper in particular ‘a conditioned symbol of safety’ that alleviates a fear of getting the virus.
Dr Taylor at the University of British Columbia’s Department of Psychiatry released his book 'The Psychology of Pandemics’ before the outbreak was first identified in Wuhan, China.
'In a pandemic, people are more likely to experience the emotion of disgust and are more motivated to avoid it,' Dr Taylor told the Times.
"In that sense, the purchase of toilet paper makes sense because it is linked to our ability to avoid disgusting things. It’s not that surprising.
"In psychology research, it is called a conditioned safety signal – it’s almost like a good luck charm or a way of keeping safe.
"This type of behaviour is very instinctive and prominent in pandemics."
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