Coercive strategies of UK Government

During the coronavirus crisis, governments across the world have provided information to the public that many have believed. However, while some have acquiesced, others have questioned the evidence of the efficacy of imposing restrictions such as mask wearing and lockdowns. In the UK, the obedience of some citizens is likely to be a result of the covert psychological strategies that were suggested by the Scientific Pandemic Influenza group on Behaviour (SPI-B).

SPI-B produced a document on 22 March 2020 in preparation for a SAGE meeting the next day. This question was addressed: “What are the options for increasing adherence to the social distancing measures?” The suggestions given are disturbing and extremely aggressive with recommendations that fear levels are increased in order to make people comply. “The perceived level of threat needs to be increased among those who are complacent, using hard-hitting emotional messaging.” They also recommend that media is used “to increase sense of personal threat.” One only has to look at the language they use in the document - “threat”, “persuade”, “coercion” - to understand their motives.

Some members of the public will be aware of the psychological techniques being used, however, many do not know that they are being manipulated. The use of these techniques raises many ethical concerns, one of which is lack of freedom of choice through subconscious coercion. In addition, the moral integrity and ethics of the psychologists who are members of SPI-B are questionable. I have noticed that some of the psychologists are members of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and should therefore abide by their Code of Ethics and Conduct. One of their Statements of Values is: ‘Psychologists value their responsibilities to the general public including the avoidance of harm and the prevention of misuse or abuse of their contribution to society.” I believe that these psychologists are failing to adhere to the BPS Values by misusing their knowledge and psychological skills to coerce people without their consent.

Coercive strategies have had a detrimental impact on mental health resulting in loneliness and suicide. Unfortunately, people who have needed urgent medical attention but were reluctant to go to hospital have died. The UK Government are using coercive control to harm and frighten the population. Coercive control is "an act or pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten their victim." Women’s Aid (2020). This psychological attack on the public by the government, the media and everyone else behind the scenes is criminal.