“STAY AT HOME”: RISK MANAGEMENT IN CONTEXTS OF UNCERTAINTY

Abstract

Based on the assumption that there are gaps in knowledge about the new coronavirus, this essay concerns risk management in situations of uncertainty. It begins by situating the SARS CoV-2 pandemic and the characteristics that lead the assertion that there are zones of uncertainty associated with it. Next, it introduces the notion of risk management as a preamble to a brief summary of measures adopted by government to control the epidemic. In this context, the “dance of words” is problematized with a specific focus on social distance strategies, discussion that leads to communication about risk and its implications for adherence to social distance measures within the framework of risk perception theories. It concludes by proposing that the contribution of social psychology in these situations requires two skills: on one hand, communication about risks and, on the other hand, understanding how this information is processed and signified in different social segments.

Keywords:
Social Distance; Covid-19; SARS; Risk management; Uncertainty