COVID-19, Coronavirus, Wuhan Virus, or China Virus? Understanding how to “Do No Harm" when naming an infectious disease

Author

Theodore C. MASTERS-WAAGE, Singapore Management UniversityFollow
Nilotpal JHA, Singapore Management UniversityFollow
Jochen REB, Singapore Management UniversityFollow

Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

publishedVersion

Publication Date

12-2020

Abstract

When labeling an infectious disease, officially sanctioned scientific names, e.g., “H1N1 virus,” are recommended over place-specific names, e.g., “Spanish flu.” This is due to concerns from policymakers and the WHO that the latter might lead to unintended stigmatization. However, with little empirical support for such negative consequences, authorities might be focusing on limited resources on an overstated issue. This paper empirically investigates the impact of naming against the current backdrop of the 2019-2020 pandemic.

Keywords

China Virus, coronavirus, COVID-19, pandemics, psychology of naming, public messaging, sinophobia, Wuhan Virus

Discipline

Organizational Behavior and Theory | Public Health | Social Psychology

Research Areas

Organisational Behaviour and Human Resources

Publication

Frontiers in Psychology

First Page

1

Last Page

10

ISSN

1664-1078

Identifier

10.3389/fpsyg.2020.561270

Embargo Period

4-15-2021

Citation

MASTERS-WAAGE, Theodore C.; JHA, Nilotpal; and REB, Jochen. COVID-19, Coronavirus, Wuhan Virus, or China Virus? Understanding how to “Do No Harm" when naming an infectious disease. (2020). Frontiers in Psychology. 1-10.
Available at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/lkcsb_research/6686

Copyright Owner and License

Authors

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.561270