COVID-19 pandemic and emotional contagion

Abstract

This study will seek answers to a research question that aims to evaluate the patterns and the structure of pandemics and their spread in different ages and territories, always taking into account the COVID-19 pandemic: what is the significance and role of emotional contagion in how people behave during the current COVID-19 pandemic, and how do emotions spread across society from person to person, like viruses? Our methodology is based on mapping previous experiences on how societies faced collapse due to epidemic outbreaks to answer this research question. Moreover, we present an autoethnography to revise moment by moment how professional and private lives are being affected by this pandemic right now.