Guest Opinion: The COVID-19 10-Day Positivity Challenge

Keywords

positivity, prosocial motivation, emotional contagion

Abstract

For many college students, COVID-19 caused much more than the loneliness of social distancing or the frustration of online classes. The pandemic also incited fear, as job offers were rescinded; anxiety, as internships were canceled; and disappointment, as weddings were postponed. Such concerns can be magnified by personal trials, like losing a mother to cancer, getting a severe concussion from a car accident or preparing to be the father of triplets during austere economic conditions. These are all real examples of adversity and uncertainty experienced by BYU students in a single course this past semester. Yet, while life circumstances were urging them to look inward, with angst and self-pity, many of these same students chose to look outward, with love and compassion. You can too.

Original Publication Citation

Smith, I. H., & Wade, K. (May 3, 2020). The covid-19 10-day positivity challenge. Deseret News (Op-ed).

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2020

Publisher

Deseret News

Language

English

College

Marriott School of Business

Department

Marketing

University Standing at Time of Publication

Associate Professor

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