Self-confinement and the new normal: associated personality factors

Despite the State of Alarm having been lifted several months ago, the threat of COVID-19 is still present in our lives. This has caused many people to experience a kind of “self-confinement”, as a consequence of the fear of being infected.

Said "self-confinement" is nothing more than an attempt to control "the uncontrollable.". Some examples of this "self-confinement" consist of: leaving home only for the "essential", not using public transport, not traveling or leaving on vacation, do not meet anyone, do not go to any bar or restaurant or public pool or beach, disinfect everything and wash your hands or apply gel hydroalcoholic in excess, which ends up causing them, many times, dermatological problems, wearing the mask even if they go alone in the car, etc.

However, What factors or personality traits influence a person to develop the recently called "cabin syndrome" by many?

• Related article: "Dysfunctional perfectionism: causes, symptoms and treatment"

Personality factors linked to self-confinement

These are the behavior patterns that generate a predisposition to self-confine in an almost obsessive way.

1. They are people who are very afraid of "losing control"

They think that "something terrible" will happen if this happens.

2. They do not tolerate uncertainty

They experience it as a threat, since they feel as if they "walk on quicksand" or "eggshells" and that makes them insecure.

3. They are always activated in the face of danger

Due to this high need for control, anticipate situations that they consider potentially dangerous, to be able to face them, in the event that they end up happening. And they tend to "overinformation."

4. They are usually very conservative

It is difficult for them to adapt to changes or unforeseen situations and routine gives them security.

5. Their way of thinking is often rigid or inflexible

His way of thinking usually occurs in terms of "all or nothing", not contemplating the "grays" or "half measures".

6. They need a script to follow in the different situations they face

This occurs because, frequently, they distrust their own criteria and tend to act according to “what is expected” socially.

7. They distrust

Usually, they tend to have a feeling of suspicion or mistrust towards the world and / or towards others, considering it as a threatening place full of dangers. Actually, we could say that his vision is more realistic than that of the rest of the people. Since, most of us are subject to the so-called: "positivity bias", which consists of seeing the world as a safer and less dangerous place than it really is.

8. They have a heightened sense of responsibility

They put a lot of emphasis on morals, taking others into account too much, which often causes them to reach the about to put themselves aside, establishing a rigid barrier between what they consider to be "okay" and "is wrong".

• You may be interested in: "What is morality? Discovering the development of ethics in childhood "

9. They tend to be very perfectionists

They have a high level of self-demand and self-sacrifice towards the common good. Using frequently expressions such as: "Should", "should", etc.

10. They tend to hypochondria

At times, they tend to be apprehensive and hypochondriacal, causing them to be overly aware of their bodily sensations, amplifying them in many situations.

11. They are usually introverted people

Namely, in many cases they have a wide "internal world" and great capacity for imagination, who enjoy and tolerate solitude well, so they need less external stimuli or social relationships, than other people.

12. They go around things a lot

They show a tendency to become obsessed at times and give great importance to their thoughts, sometimes equating them to actions or deeds. They are also often "superstitious" and believe that if they think something, this may eventually end up happening.

13. Your thinking is usually more concrete

The possibility of some kind of misunderstanding may cause anxiety, they like "things to be clear", often using expressions such as: "clear things and thick chocolate", "to bread, bread and wine, came "not liking double meanings, or ambiguous messages and often taking things" at the foot of the lyrics".

14. They tend to be submissive to authority

They tend to abide by the norms and mandates of people, hierarchically, above them without question.

15. They do not distinguish between the possible and the probable

That is, they think that if something is possible, it will probably end up happening.

His usual state is usually hypervigilance. This causes permanent difficulty or inability to relax, faced with the possibility that some danger or external situation catches them off guard and they cannot avoid it.

16. They are prone to catastrophic thoughts

They end up being, almost always, in the worst. They often use expressions such as: "what if ...", "think wrong and you will be right", etc.

17. They have trouble asking for and receiving help

This makes them feel vulnerable. They also tend to distrust the help of others and do not like to "bother" either.

18. They have a tendency to flee from conflictive situations

They prefer to avoid conflict, in general, for fear of getting angry and end up losing control. And before the possibility that others get angry with them, for fear of rejection or abandonment, or to suffer some kind of damage from them.

19. The phenomenon "self-fulfilling prophecy" is created

Sometimes, the anxiety generated by uncertainty is so high that they do not tolerate it and end up "losing control", being able to go to the opposite extreme, which, paradoxically, can cause them to expose themselves to situations of risk and danger, reinforcing this fear of losing control.