REVIEW published: 13 November 2020 doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.569528 Exploring the Motivation Behind Discrimination and Stigmatization Related to COVID-19: A Social Psychological Discussion Based on the Main Theoretical Explanations H. Andaç DemirtaS¸-Madran* Faculty of Communication, BaS¸ kent University, Ankara, Turkey The novel coronavirus (COVID-19), was first detected in Wuhan province in China during late December 2019 and was designated as being highly infectious. The World Health Edited by: Joanna Sokolowska, Organization (WHO) labeled it a “pandemic” on March 11, 2020. Throughout human University of Social Sciences and history, experience has shown that prejudices and viruses spread simultaneously during Humanities, Poland a viral pandemic. Outgroup members have been associated with various diseases and Reviewed by: Emanuele Politi, non-human vectors of diseases. Some epidemics have been named according to various KU Leuven, Belgium outgroups, just as the novel coronavirus has been referred to by some as the “Wuhan Helene Joffe, virus” or the “Chinese virus.” Associating a virus with a sociodemographic group builds University College London, United Kingdom a false illusionary correlation, which can lead to stigmatization and discrimination. *Correspondence: Pandemics can also stimulate violent xenophobic reactions. Besides the obvious harmful H. Andaç DemirtaS¸ -Madran consequences for the individuals targeted, pandemic-related discrimination also affects
[email protected] the spread of the virus through its effect on public attitudes toward prevention and Specialty section: restriction, health service procurement, and in the establishment of health-related policies. This article was submitted to It is important to first understand the relevant concepts and processes, and also to Personality and Social Psychology, a section of the journal understand the underlying causes of discrimination in order to fight it.