Prosocial nudges and visual indicators increase social distancing, but authoritative nudges do not.

ABSTRACT: Social distancing reduces the transmission of COVID-19 and other airborne diseases. To test different ways to increase social distancing, we conducted a field experiment at a major US airport using a system that presented color-coded visual indicators on crowdedness. We complemented those visual indicators with nudges commonly used to increase COVID-19-preventive behaviors. Analyzing data from 57,146 travelers, we find that visual indicators and nudges significantly affected social distancing. Introducing visual indicators increased the share of travelers practicing social distancing, and this positive effect was enhanced by introducing nudges focused on personal benefits ("protect yourself") and public benefits ("protect others"). Conversely, an authoritative nudge referencing the Centers

SUBMITTER: Banker M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9388071 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature