The Australian death rate from COVID-19 is just 10% of the United States trend. Or, if the death rate were the same in the U.S., then there would be 100,000, not 1,000,000 deaths there. Psychology Today explains Australians trust each other and their government more than Americans do. In the words of one Australian, “I’d hate to be the one who lets everybody down”.
Does Everyone in Australia Hate to Let Others Down?
Not, not entirely, although Psychology Today notes 67% of Australians trust their healthcare system, compared to a third of Americans. They also trust their institutions and science to a greater extent. And perhaps most importantly, Australians trust one another more than Americans do.
America’s founding father Benjamin Franklin remarked “We must, indeed, all hang together. Or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately”. We have an example of that in Californian aquatic blackworms, Psychology Today continues.
When the going gets tough, they form a solid ball that crawls along seeking sustenance and protection. So if these canny creatures – and sardines too – can band together in solidarity, why is this harder for humans?
We Were Social Creatures Once – What Changed?
Cultures and individual preferences allow us to make choices along a spectrum from extreme personal autonomy, to extreme collectivism. A study in The Lancet found trust in one’s government and oneself, or the lack of is a strong indicator of COVID-19 mortality.
In fact, it is more powerful than biological and environmental factors. As well as exposure to air pollution, gross-domestic-product-per-capita, and smoking. Greek philosopher Aristotle believed trust enhances human flourishing, because it allows for collaboration and teamwork.
Psychology Today concludes “it is in the best interests of all of us to trust each other more, and for institutions to become more trustworthy. That last remark, surely, is a heads up for our governments?
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Preview Image: Sardines in a Defensive Position
