Nations are bio-social systems. Like individual organisms, they pulsate by expanding and contracting. When not threatened by external danger, they expand. When threatened, they contract. The coronavirus is a threat to the American Nation and, as a response, it has contracted socially and economically. The social response to the coronavirus is a rise in mass anxiety and social retreat. The economic response is a biophysical contraction accompanied by a state of fear and a sharp reduction in the economic activity.
Because of the pre-existing social and economic overly-expanded state of America, the public’s reaction to the coronavirus threat is greatly exaggerated. People are overly anxious and, as a result, have a need to understand what is happening and to be comforted. They look for answers from the government that are dependent on their individual character structures. Because it is impossible to know what will happen in the future, some overreact to the point of panic. To relieve their panic people function as groups and become more out of touch with themselves.
What is most important in times of crisis is to focus on and maintain one’s biological work function, whatever it is.
