Telling people to "rely on their reasoning" increases intentions to wear a face covering to slow down COVID-19 transmission

Abstract

Finding messaging to promote the use of face masks is fundamental during a pandemic. Study 1 (N = 399) shows that telling people to "rely on their reasoning" increases intentions to wear a face mask, compared with telling them to "rely on their emotions." In Study 2 (N = 591) we add a baseline. However, the results show only a non-significant trend. Study 3 reports a well-powered replication of Study 2 (N = 930). In line with Study 1, this study shows that telling people to "rely on their reasoning" increases intentions to wear a face mask, compared to telling them to "rely on their emotions." Two internal meta-analyses show that telling people to "rely on their reasoning" increases intentions to wear a face mask compared (1) to telling them to "rely on their emotions" and (2) to the baseline. These findings suggest interventions to promote intentions to wear a face mask.

Keywords: COVID‐19; dual process; emotion; face masks; reason.