Using Social and Behavioral Science to Support COVID-19 Pandemic Response

The COVID-19 pandemic has led us to witness behavior change in pursuit of collective goals on an unprecedented global scale. All individuals were asked to make an effort, with the personal costs varying in magnitude. Behavioral sciences, which have increasingly become part of the public policy toolbox of many countries, proved critical in supporting this change. This chapter highlights where and how applied behavioral science was most relevant to the pandemic policy response, describes some concrete examples of applications, and gives a flavor of how these varied around the world. The focus is on examining features that enhance cooperation, behavioral levers that help promote health preventive behavior and vaccination, challenges in scientific communication, and how to combat misinformation. Behavioral science was widely used in some countries during the COVID-19 pandemic and not in others. Some applications were successful, but others were not. Reflecting on why and how it contributed to the pandemic response is important as the challenges the world faces in this century will require global cooperation and widespread behavior change.