Future orientation is associated with less lockdown rule breaking, even during large illegal gatherings. (January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Newson, Martha; van Mulukom, Valerie; Johns, Sarah E.
• Is Part Of: Futures. Volume 135(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-01
• Subjects: Life history theory -- Futures -- Future orientation -- Anticipation -- Ritual -- COVID-19 -- Compliance -- Rave; Economic forecasting -- Periodicals; Technological forecasting -- Periodicals; Economic policy -- Periodicals; Prévision économique -- Périodiques; Prévision technologique -- Périodiques; Politique économique -- Périodiques; Economic forecasting; Economic policy; Technological forecasting; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 330.0112
• DOI: 10.1016/j.futures.2021.102883
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0016-3287

Abstract

Highlights: Evolutionarily, faster life history strategies include early maturation, more sexual partners, and less future orientation. Breaking pandemic guidelines at mass 'raves' during lockdown was also associated with faster life history strategies. Over 50 % of ravers still wore face-coverings and regularly washed their hands at raves, complying with pandemic guidelines. Household mixing during lockdown was significantly worse among single-vaccinated 80+ year olds, than among rave attendees. Tapping into life history theory could have substantial impact on future public health campaigns for both young and old. Abstract: Critical questions for large societies revolve around whose behaviors anticipate future repercussions - be they socio-legal or health-based - and whose do not. We used an evolutionary Life History Framework with a sample of UK-based, self-defined "active" ravers ( n = 506) to better understand attendance of, and behavior at, mass events where chances of infection were high during the COVID-19 pandemic. During periods of the COVID-19 lockdown in the UK, 42 % of participants reported still attending underground raves. Just over half of these individuals wore facemasks and regularly washed their hands at lockdown raves; perhaps unsurprisingly demonstrating significantly lower levels of pandemic-compliant behavior than reported by the general public in their day-to-day lives. Nonetheless, we found that 'active' ravers, in general, conformed to household mixing lockdown rules significantly better than over-80 s who had received a single dose of the vaccine. Ravers reporting faster life history strategies (i.e., more focus on proximal outcomes, reduced future orientation), broke more lockdown rules at these events. Those with slower life history strategies (increased distal or future orientation) reported the greatest improvements to their wellbeing following lockdown raves. An evolutionary life history framework can be used to target campaigns encouraging norm compliance toward populations who are most likely to break important health guidelines.