COVID-19 and face touching

One of the important behaviours that needs changing to prevent covid-19 spread is face touching.  This is a very automated behaviour and, as such, is very difficult to change by reflective motivation i.e., deciding to change.   I have seen two methods, both of which have a sound basis in the psychology of behaviour, for decreasing face touching.

Reduce your physical opportunity to touch your face by attaching sticky tape across the outside of your elbow joint whilst your arm is straight.  This restricts the degree of bend in the elbow and as such makes face touching impossible.

Do some habit reversal exercises to change your automatic motivation (see this free article in the conversation: https://theconversation.com/how-to-stop-touching-your-face-to-minimize-spread-of-coronavirus-and-other-germs-133683 there are lots of videos on youtube describing the techniques.

BW
Lucie

Dr Lucie Byrne-Davis BSc(hons) MSc PhD CPsychol PFHEA FEHPS

HCPC Registered Health Psychologist & Senior Lecturer
Division of Medical Education | School of Medical Sciences | Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
The University of ManchesterDescription: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Image result for manchester bee
Tel: (+44) 161 275 1856 | Twitter: @luciebd | web: www.mcrimpsci.org