CONFIDENCE AS A MODULATOR IN COVID-19 PANDEMIC BEHAVIORS AND PERSPECTIVES?

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals have been divided about the best course of action. The media has continued to highlight aspects of the uncertainty and discontent of individuals around the globe. Although fundamental, general confidence in oneself and in others may largely contribute to such behaviors and perspectives. The present study investigated an array of variables pertaining to pandemic-specific confidence, decision-making, and subjective perspectives. This article addresses the findings concerning confidence in the pandemic within and across cultures. 622 complete questionnaires were collected through an online survey, of which 561 were divided into three cultural groups (United States, Other Western countries, Non-Western countries) and analyzed across confidence contexts. Cultural groups were based on geography, response frequency, and general cultural tendencies. The findings indicate greater confidence in self-relevant contexts, such as own actions and decision-making, compared to other-relevant contexts, in others’ actions and decision-making. Confidence further differentiated across cultural groups, demonstrating minute but notable differences in reported confidence across contexts. These findings provide preliminary evidence that confidence is an underlying modulator in pandemic behaviors and decision-making. Such findings also suggest potential differences across cultures, which should be further expounded on in future research.