‘No one wanted to read’ his book on pandemic psychology – then Covid hit

Australian psychologist Steven Taylor published what would turn out to be a prophetic book, and it has become like a Lonely Planet guide to the pandemic.

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Pandemics are large-scale epidemics that spread throughout the world. Virologists predict that the next pandemic could occur in the coming years, probably from some form of influenza, with potentially devastating consequences. Vaccinations, if available, and behavioral methods are vital for stemming the spread of infection.  

Remarkably little attention has been devoted to the psychological factors that influence the spread of pandemic infection and the associated emotional distress and social disruption. Psychological factors are important. They play a role in nonadherence to vaccination and hygiene programs and play an important role in how people cope with the threat of infection and associated losses. They help in understanding and managing societal problems, such as the spreading of excessive fear, stigmatization, and xenophobia that occur when people are threatened with infection.