Filenews 6 September 2021 - by Despina Psilou
The Covid pandemic and the harsh containment measures implemented to stop it leave a residue on society and people. Work changes form, space, hours. Education is done remotely, everyday activities take on a digital character, and scientific knowledge is sidelined to give way to conspiracy theories. At the same time, man acquires compulsions, becomes distant and overprotective, has difficulty in expressing emotions and poorer body language. This is what Marios Vryonidis, Professor of Sociology and Research Methodology at the European University Cyprus, as well as psychiatrist George Mikellidis, told "F", outlining the post-Covid era.
"What the pandemic, the lockdown and the distancing measures have achieved in a very short period of time, is to turn society into a digital one", Mr. Vryonidis said and added that "activities that we did with physical presence, today we do them online. This shift will stay in the future. We are in constant connection with individuals, organizations, institutions and we don't need to be there with our physical presence." This feature, he explains, on the one hand offers us access to effective communication. But, on the other hand, it creates a new condition that may not be so compatible with our social status and our need to socialize with a physical presence. "I have reservations about how people will be able to adapt to so-called 'socialisation'. If we will compromise. It goes against our basic characteristics and our need for fellowship. It can be fast and effective communication, but it's not human."
Another consequence of the pandemic, Mr. Vryonidis said, is the new work mores, which lack rules. "We communicate without limitation, temporal, spatial, social. It creates the feeling that we are constantly available. You are constantly able to receive an email, regardless of the time or day of the week. At the same time, it blurs the boundaries of personal time, professional time, family life. Everything is mixed as several work from home, trying to balance. The boundaries of the workplace and staff are mixed. It is not human even if it is effective. These are balances that we must find again. It will take new working mores for which we have not created rules on how we should act. It's something we'll have to gradually negotiate with our employers and partners."
Another consequence is found in education. "The protocols to prevent the spread of the pandemic have highlighted the potential of tele-education. We have found that this way of education is not as effective for younger children. This is because their education is about social learning and interaction. On the contrary, in adults tele-education works and in some cases more effectively. Of course, in the future, we can integrate in-person education and the tools of distance learning, in order to strengthen it.
Questioning science
The questioning of scientific knowledge is another relic noted by Mr. Vryonidis, underlining its negative sign. "This is a phenomenon promoted through disinformation," which could prevail through people's inability to recognize true news and distinguish it from conspiracy theories and fake news. "For example, the scientific knowledge about the production of vaccines or even about the existence of the virus was questioned."
"There is a constant fear of not sticking to the virus, even if we are vaccinated or if we take protective measures. We think twice about whether to approach someone and whether we will shake hands. It's a condition that has been going on for 1.5 years," psychiatrist George Mikellidis said, adding: "The pandemic, protective measures and restrictions have changed the way people behave and communicate. Body language has also changed in interactions, due to decreased emotional expression. This form of communication, which has always been known to people, is now being corrupted. I like to think it will come back in full. But it is clear that there will be a transition period until the fear is contained and disappears at some point."
This physical distancing, the psychiatrist said, creates a strong negative impact on our psychology. "We are driven to depression, anxiety disorders and a strong insecurity, which is reinforced by both economic uncertainty and the fear that people will find themselves without work. The negatives of this pandemic and the psychological consequences - as reported by the World Health Organization - may be worse than those of the Second World War." He also estimated that the next generations will be difficult in the coming years. "Of course man by nature fights the adverse conditions. He finds ways of escape, finds physical or psychological defences to face the negative events he encounters in his path. He will adapt to these circumstances and I believe he will be able to fully return to the ability to express himself emotionally with other people."
We must not forget, he notes, that in the last year the emotional reactions have been imprisoned. "As if we are in a bubble and we cannot express ourselves. Life is like a science fiction scenario. Man has become a robot. What hours he will be at home, what hours he will wake up, what hours he will send sms."
Obsessive compulsive disorders, Mr. Mikellidis continued, right and wrong, "how I should pay attention, as well as the new way of everyday life, has affected children in particular, who are more vulnerable to the formation of characteristics. The impact will follow for years to come." Thus, Mr. Mikellidis, describing the profile of people in the post-Covid era, referred to people with compulsions, overprotective, distant, with difficulty in expressing emotions, with poorer body language and distrust of science. "Some may express paranoidness," he said, adding that already some people experience post-traumatic stress, cannot sleep and are constantly feeling in danger.
Bob and the controversy of vaccines
"The issue of vaccines and disinformation has an unimaginable impact", underlines Mr. Mikellidis and adds: "For some, vaccines hide a negative purpose. For others, people who have such reservations and suspicion are "sprayed" or bear other negative characterizations. These people (the cautious ones) may have found themselves on the verge of paranoia or may also have psychotic episodes. There is suspicion towards doctors or other groups of people. A fear lust is created. The combination of all this creates a negativism. This will not go unnoticed. That will hurt us."
