Journal Screenshot

International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences

Open Access Journal

ISSN: 2222-6990

Exploring the Compliance Behaviour During COVID-19 Pandemic from Social Psychology Perspectives

Abdul Rashid Abdul Aziz, Zuraina Ali, Najihah Mohd Noor, Shahirah Sulaiman

http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v11-i7/10493

Open access

The study explores on the compliance behaviour of Malaysians during the pandemic of COVID-19 from the social psychology perspectives. Most of the research materials referred in this study are from secondary resources which are from research articles, newspaper articles, materials from magazines and bulletin. Then, content analysis was employed to obtain relevant themes for the study. Five themes are identified namely, (i) social norms during the COVID-19 outbreak, (ii) compliance with new norms through social restrictions, (iii) social conformity to adhere to new norms, (iv) optimistic bias during new norms and (v) diffusion of responsibilities during new norms. The implication of the study showed that there are varies compliance and non-compliance behaviours that are demonstrated by fellow Malaysians as the pandemic shows no signs of slowing down. It is therefore vital for Malaysians to follow the appropriate Standard Operation Procedures and be vigilant and resilient in facing this pandemic.

Aarts, H., Dijksterhuis, A. (2003). The silence of the library: Environment, situational norm and social behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(1), 18–28. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.84.1.18
Aziz, A. R. A. (2021). PKP 2.0: Magnet Optimis Memacu Kesejahteraan Diri. Retrieved on Feb 1st, 2021 from http://fkp.usim.edu.my/pkp-2-0-magnet-optimis-memacu-kesejahteraan-diri/
Aziz, A. R. A. (2020). Wabak Covid-19: Penyesuaian Kendiri Terhadap Norma Baharu. Retrieved Sept 15, 2020 from http://fkp.usim.edu.my/wabak-covid-19-penyesuaian-kendiri-terhadap-norma-baharu/
Aziz, A. R. A., Sukor, N. M., & Razak, N. A. (2020). Wabak Covid-19: Pengurusan Aspek Kesihatan Mental Semasa Norma Baharu. International Journal of Social Science Research, 2(4), 156-174
Alexander, J. M. C. K. (2005). The Evolutionary Foundations of Strong Reciprocity. Analyse & Kritik, 27(1), 106-112. https://doi.org/10.1515/auk-2005-0106
Hamid, A. A. (2020). Wanita jangkitan tempatan pertama koronavirus. My Metro. Accessed on Aug 7, 2020 from:
https://www.hmetro.com.my/utama/2020/02/541989/wanita-jangkitan-tempatan-pertama-koronavirus
Aronson, E., Wilson, T. D., & Akert, A. M. (2005). Social Psychology (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Asch, S. E. (1956). Studies of independence and conformity. A minority of one against a unanimous majority. Psychological Monographs: General and Applied, 70(9), 1–70. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0093718
Bernama. (2020). Kronologi COVID-19 di Malaysia sehingga 16 Mac 2020. Retrieved April
4, 2020 from: https://www.bernama.com/bm/am/news_covid-19.php?id=1821899
Bernama. (2020). COVID-19: Sikap rakyat Malaysia tentukan lanjutan PKP. Retrieved Oct 25, 2020 from: https://www.astroawani.com/berita-malaysia/covid19-sikap-rakyat-malaysia-tentukan-lanjutan-pkp-235879
Beyer, F., Sidarus, N., Bonicalzi, S., & Haggard, P. (2017). Beyond self-serving bias: diffusion of responsibility reduces sense of agency and outcome monitoring. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience. 12(1), 138-145. https://doi.org/10.1093/scan/nsw160
Bond, R., & Smith, P. B. (1996). Culture and conformity : A meta-analysis of studied using Asch's (1952b.1956) line judgement task. Psychological Bulletin, 119(1), 111-137. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.119.1.111
Bottoms, A. (2001). Compliance with Community Penalties, in Bottoms, A., Gelsthorpe, L.,
Rex, S. Community Penalties: Change and Challenges. Cullompton: Willan.
Brandon, A., List, J. A., Metcalfe, R. D., Price, M. K., & Rundhammer, F. (2019). Testing for crowd out in social nudges: Evidence from a natural field experiment in the market for electricity. PNAS Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 116(12), 5293–5298. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1802874115
Chapin, J., & Coleman, G. (2009). Optimistic bias: what you think,what you know, or whom you know? North American Journal of Psychology, 11(1), 121-132.
Cialdini, R. B. (2009). Influnece, Science and Practice. (5th Edition), Pearson HE, Inc..Kindle Edition.
Cialdini, R. B., & Goldstein, N.J. (2004). Social influence : Compliance and Conformity. Annual Review of Psychology. 55. 591–621.
https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.55.090902.142015
Cialdini, R. B. (2001). Harnessing the science of persuasion. Harvard Business Review, 79(9), 72-79.
Cialdini, R. B., Reno, R. R., & Kallren, C. A. (1990). A focus theory of normative conduct. Recycling the concept of norm to reduce littering in public places. Journal of personality and social psychology, 58 ,1015-1026. doi: 10.1037/0022-3514.58.6.1015.
Clark, C., Davila, A., Regis, M., & Kraus, S. (2020). Predictors of COVID-19voluntary compliance behaviors: An international investigation. Elsevier Public Health Emergency Collection, 2, 76-82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.glt.2020.06.003
Darley J. M., & Latané, B. (1968). Bystander Intervention in Emergencies: Diffusion of Responsibility. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 8(4), 377-383. doi:10.1037/h0025589
Dillard, A. J., McCaul, K. D., & Klein, W. M. P. (2006). Unrealistic optimism in smokers:
Implications for smoking myth endorsement and self-protetive motivation. Journal of health communication. 11(1), 93-102. https://doi.org/10.1080/10810730600637343
Dolinski, D., Dolinska, B., Zmaczynska-Witek, B., Banach, M., & Kulesza, W. (2020). Unrealistic Optimism in the Time of Coronavirus Pandemic: May It Help to Kill, If So-Whom: Disease or the Person?. Journal of clinical medicine, 9(5), 1464. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9051464
Basaruddin, F. (2020). Dar Al-Hikmah Library: COVID-19 Research Update and Support for
Remote Learning. News. International Islamic University Malaysia. Retrieved May 8, 2020 from: http://www.iium.edu.my/my/news/covid-19-research-update-and-support-for-remote-learning
Festinger, L., Schachter, S., & Back, K. (1950). Social pressures in informal groups. NY: Harper.
Ha, J., & Rim, H. (2020). Does audience optimism transcend the severity of news frame during health pandemic outbreaks? Journal of Communication Science, 20(1), 191-229. doi:10.14696/jcs.2020.03.20.1.191
Hardin, C., & Higgins, T. (1996). Shared reality: How social verification makes the subject objective. In R.M. Sorrentino & E.T Highhind (Eds), Handbook of motivation and cognition: Foundaton of social behaviour. (Vol.3, pp. 28-84). NY: Guilford.
Helweg-Larsen, M., & Shepperd, J. A. (2001). Do moderators of the optimistic bias affect personal or target risk estimates? A review of the literature. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 5, 74–95. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327957PSPR0501_5
Ismail, I., & Rahim, R. N. R. (2020). 50 peratus rakyat pulang dari luar negara tak patuh SOP. BH Online. Accessed 21 August 2020 from:
https://www.hmetro.com.my/mutakhir/2020/07/603083/50-peratus-rakyat-pulang-dari-luar-negara-tak-patuh-sop
Jonathan, J., Ben, B., Mike, H., Andy, M., Paul, Q., & Tom, R. T. (2012). Why do People
Comply with the Law? Legitimacy and the Influence of Legal Institutions, The British Journal of Criminology, 52(6), 1051–1071.
Jones, L. M., & Foshay, N. N. (1984). Diffusion of responsibility in a nonemergency situation: Response to a greeting from a stranger. The Journal of Social Psychology, 123(2), 155–158.
Joshi, M. S., Carter, W. (2013). Unrealistic optimism: east and west? Front Psychology, 4(6). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00006
Kelman, H. C. (1958). Compliance, Identification, and Internalization: Three Processes of Attitude Change. Journal of Conflict Resolution, 2(1). 51–60.
https://doi.org/10.1177/002200275800200106
Kim, H. K., & Niederdeppe, J. (2013). Exploring optimistic bias and the integrative model of behavioral prediction in the context of a campus influenza outbreak. Journal of Health Communication, 18, 206–222. https://doi.org/10.1080/10810730.2012.688247
Kincaid, D. L. (2004). From innovation to social norms : Bounded normative influence. Journal of Health Communication, 9, 37-57. https://doi.org/10.1080/10810730490271511
Klein, C. T. F., & Helweg-Larsen, M. (2002). Perceived control and the optimistic bias: A meta-analytic review. Psychology & Health, 17, 437–446.
https://doi.org/10.1080/0887044022000004920
Kruglanski, A., & Stroebe, W. (2011). Handbook of The History of Social Psychology.
Philadelphia, PA: Psychology Press.
Latane, B., & Darley, J.M. (1969). Bystander "Apathy". American Scientist. 57(2). 244-268. https://www.jstor.org/stable/27828530
Loh, I. (2020). Wuhan virus: Eight in isolation in JB after coming into contact
with Singapore victim. The Star. Retrieved Feb 17, 2020 from:
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/01/24/wuhan-virus-eight-in-isolation-in-jb-after-coming-into-contact-with-singapore-victim
McDonald, R. I., & Crandall, C. S. (2015). Social norms and social influence. Current Opinion in Behavioural Science, 3,147-151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cobeha.2015.04.006
Hifzuddin, M. (2020). Kluster Sivagangga : Pemilik kedai nasi kandar didenda, penjara. My Metro. Accessed Aug 17, 2020 from:
https://www.hmetro.com.my/utama/2020/08/609839/kluster-sivagangga-pemilik-kedai-nasi-kandar-didenda-penjara-metrotv
Idris, R. (2020). Reaksi berbeza cadangan naikkan kompaun RM10,000. BH Online. Accessed Sept 3, 2020 from:
http://www.bhplus.com.my/berita/nasional/2020/08/724932/reaksi-berbeza-cadangan-naikkan-kompaun-rm10000
Miltenberger, R. G. (2012). Behavior Modification: Principles and Procedures, (5th ed.). United States Of America: Wadsworth. Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
Rakyat, M. (2020). Lebih 14,000 langgar PKP, 5,930 pesalah sudah dituduh di mahkamah. MindaRakyat.Net. Accessed Oct 25, 2020 from:
https://www.mindarakyat.net/2020/04/lebih-14000-langgar-pkp-5930-pesalah.html
Abdullah, N. H. (2020)., Tingkatkan amalan 3W, jauhi 3S, 3C, Berita Harian Online, Retrieved Oct 15, 2020 from:
https://www.bharian.com.my/berita/nasional/2020/05/693790/tingkatkan-amalan-3w-jauhi-3s-3c
Rendsvig, R. K. (2014). Pluralistic ignorance in the bystander effect: informational dynamics of unresponsive witnesses in situations calling for intervention. Synthese. 191.2471–2498. https://www.jstor.org/stable/24019973
Robinson G., McNeill F. (2008). Exploring the Dynamics of Compliance with Community
Penalties. Theoretical Criminology, 12, 431-449.
Robinson, P. H., Darley, J. M. (2004). Does Criminal Law Deter? A Behavioural Science
Investigation. Oxford Journal of Legal Studies, 24, 173- 205.
Rothman, A. J., Klein, W. M., & Weinstein, N. D. (1996). Absolute and relative biases in estimations of personal risk. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 26, 1213–1236. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1559-1816.1996.tb01778.x
Sharot, T. (2011). The Optimism Bias. Current Biology, 21(23), R941-R945.
Shepperd, J. A., Klein, W. M. P., Waters, E. A., & Weinstein, N. D. (2013). Taking stock of unrealistic optimism. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 8, 395–411. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691613485247
Sherif, M. (1936). The psychology of social norms. NewYork: Harper
Sipalan J., Holmes S. (2020). Malaysia confirms first cases of coronavirus
infection. Reuters. Retrieved Mac 11, 2020 from:
https://www.reuters.com/article/china-health-malaysia/malaysia-confirms-first-cases-of-coronavirus-infection-idUSL4N29U03A
Sukumaran, T. (2020). Coronavirus: Malaysia in partial lockdown from March 18
to limit outbreak. South China Morning Post. Retrieved Mac 27, 2020 from: https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3075456/coronavirus-malaysias-prime-minister-muhyiddin-yassin
Sword, R., & Zimbardo, P. (2015). The Bystander Effect. Accessed August
21, 2020 from: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-time-cure/201502/the-bystander-effect
Taylor, S. E., & Brown, J. D. (1988). Illusion and well-being: a social psychological perspective on mental health. Psychology Bulletin. 103, 193–210. doi: 10.1037/0033-2909.103.2.193
Tignor, S. M., & Colvin, C. R. (2017). The Interpersonal Adaptiveness of Dispositional Guilt and Shame: A Meta-Analytic Investigation. Journal of Personality, 85(3), https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12244
Turner, J. C. (1991). Social Influence. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks Cole.
Tyler, T. R. (2006). Psychological Perspectives on Legitimacy and Legitimation. Annual
Review of Psychology, 57, 375- 400.
Zahari, B. J. (2020). Air mata 'makcik gelang pink'. BH Online. Accessed on Aug 18, 2020 from:
https://www.bharian.com.my/berita/kes/2020/08/721218/air-mata-makcik-gelang-pink

In-Text Citation: (Aziz et al., 2021)
To Cite this Article: Aziz, A. R. A., Ali, Z., Noor, N. M., & Sulaiman, S. (2021). Exploring the Compliance Behaviour During COVID-19 Pandemic from Social Psychology Perspectives. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 11(7), 561–578.