Media Contacts:
Aaron Berstler
and Dustin Sadnick
(651) 228-9141
Swine flu: The beginning of a long
epidemic season?
Negative social mood and bear markets go hand-in-hand with
epidemics
Gainesville, Ga./June 24, 2009 – Earlier this month, the World Health Organization
declared swine flu a global pandemic, warning that nations should prepare
for a second wave of the virus. Conventional wisdom says that such announcements
about disease make people fearful and depressed. New research into a 1,000-year
history of epidemics, however, reaches the opposite conclusion: depressed
and fearful people are more susceptible to epidemics in the first place.
The research done by Alan Hall, senior research associate of the Socionomics
Institute, reveals that negative social psychology is conducive to disease
outbreaks. The decline in the stock market is another manifestation of pessimistic
and fearful social sentiment that may be in its early stages of development.
“The scale of this mood shift means that the bulk of the largest bear market
since 1720 still lies ahead, increasing our risk of an encounter with one
of the grim reapers of major social mood decline: epidemic disease,” Hall
writes in the Institute’s monthly research review.
The recent rebound in the stock market coincides with the return of a historically
high level of complacency about disease, Hall finds. His analysis suggests
that an epidemic more deadly than the first wave of swine flu could erupt
in the future near a lower low in the stock market.
Managing your own psychology in a stressful social environment is one of
the keys to staying healthy, he explains. “Constant anxiety prolongs high
levels of stress hormones, which suppress the immune system and raise the
risk of depression.”
One tip Hall offers for keeping your head on your shoulders: “Understand
that society is entering a period of elevated stress, a season of disease
susceptibility. Awareness of this will help you prepare, stay calm and maintain
your immunity.”
* * * * *
For a copy of the study or to arrange an interview with Alan Hall, call
Aaron Berstler or Dustin Sadnick at Kohnstamm Communications, 651-228-9141.
About The Socionomics Institute
The Socionomics Institute, based in Gainesville, Ga., studies social mood
and its role in driving cultural trends. The Institute’s analysis is published
in the monthly research review, The Socionomist. Learn more at
www.socionomics.net.