"Pandemics are global outbreaks of novel or re-emerging infectious diseases. Pandemics will likely become more prevalent in the coming years due to climate change, the growing global population, and other reasons. Pandemics reveal aspects of humanity rarely seen in calmer times. Psychology plays an essential role in pandemics, in which peoples beliefs, emotions, and behaviors influence disease transmission, infection-related mental health problems, and societal disruption. Uncertainty is an inherent aspect of pandemics. When faced with novel pathogens, people cope with these invisible, uncertain threats in various ways, including coping strategies that provide only an illusion of control, making people calmer but not safer. Other psychological phenomena observed during pandemics include fear extremes (e.g.

, excessive fear vs. undue disregard for the threat), fleeing, panic-buying, xenophobia, rumors and conspiracy theories, protests about wearing protective facemasks, anti-vaccination attitudes, lockdown protests, increases in mood and anxiety disorders, and other problems. Efforts to manage one problem (e.g., lockdown to stem the spread of infection) may worsen others (e.g., mental health problems). The present volume offers a in-depth analysis of these and other issues concerning the psychology of pandemics.

The book explores promising new directions for maintaining and improving mental health and enhancing adherence to pandemic mitigation measures. This book is intended for those working in psychology, healthcare, public health, and related fields--clinicians, researchers, policymakers, and students-as well as the general reader. To prepare for future global outbreaks of infectious diseases, we all would benefit from a better understanding of the psychology of pandemics"-- Provided by publisher.