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... and Fundamental Attribution Error. I'm certainly no expert but as I understand it, that involves attributing your own misdeeds to situational circumstances beyond your control while ascribing someone else's to wilful action, inaction or intent.
It seems Covid-19 Rebellion is now a Thing. Here's what Taylor Blewett reported in a front page article in our local rag:
https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/mistrust-fatigue-inconsistency-why-arent-people-following-the-public-health-guidance
If I had to place myself somewhere on the continuum between follower and flouter, it would certainly be closer to the follower end. Mostly I follow the rules because I agree with them. I think that at the very least it doesn't do any harm to follow them and in a few extreme cases, could even be a question of life and death. Where things get murkier is when it comes to doing things that are allowed but not exactly encouraged. After all, sensible people are constantly weighing risks versus rewards before deciding upon a particular course of action.
I can also get quite outraged when I hear about victims of heavy-handed enforcement measures that to me make absolutely no sense, or when I feel it was a judgement call and the enforcer exercised poor judgement (as in: "Under those circumstances, couldn't they have at least given the guy a break?") Maybe that's actually a kind of reverse fundamental attribution error?
When it comes to rule flouters, I don't think it's fair to tar them all with the same brush. Yes, there are some who reject on principle any limitations on their freedoms ("I'll be damned if I'll let those bastards tell me what to do") and even a few conspiracy theorists who claim that Covid-19 is not real or is seriously overblown. But I think the vast majority of rule breakers are simply suffering Covid fatigue and know that Covid-19 is not the only bogeyman to contend with here. So they choose one or two relatively low-risk activities that may be technically against the rules but pay dividends in terms of their sanity and overall well-being - such as the housebound new mothers desperate for occasional in-person adult company.
Finally, some may also be unaware of the whole complex web of rules and regulations which are changing on a day-to-day, week-to-week and region-to-region basis.
It seems Covid-19 Rebellion is now a Thing. Here's what Taylor Blewett reported in a front page article in our local rag:
https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/mistrust-fatigue-inconsistency-why-arent-people-following-the-public-health-guidance
If I had to place myself somewhere on the continuum between follower and flouter, it would certainly be closer to the follower end. Mostly I follow the rules because I agree with them. I think that at the very least it doesn't do any harm to follow them and in a few extreme cases, could even be a question of life and death. Where things get murkier is when it comes to doing things that are allowed but not exactly encouraged. After all, sensible people are constantly weighing risks versus rewards before deciding upon a particular course of action.
I can also get quite outraged when I hear about victims of heavy-handed enforcement measures that to me make absolutely no sense, or when I feel it was a judgement call and the enforcer exercised poor judgement (as in: "Under those circumstances, couldn't they have at least given the guy a break?") Maybe that's actually a kind of reverse fundamental attribution error?
When it comes to rule flouters, I don't think it's fair to tar them all with the same brush. Yes, there are some who reject on principle any limitations on their freedoms ("I'll be damned if I'll let those bastards tell me what to do") and even a few conspiracy theorists who claim that Covid-19 is not real or is seriously overblown. But I think the vast majority of rule breakers are simply suffering Covid fatigue and know that Covid-19 is not the only bogeyman to contend with here. So they choose one or two relatively low-risk activities that may be technically against the rules but pay dividends in terms of their sanity and overall well-being - such as the housebound new mothers desperate for occasional in-person adult company.
Finally, some may also be unaware of the whole complex web of rules and regulations which are changing on a day-to-day, week-to-week and region-to-region basis.
