Cohesion of citizens in the Corona crisis

The analysis of the self-positioning of citizens in the state and the sources of prosocial behavior are the key to a deeper understanding of the social cohesion of societies. In all its tragedy, the current pandemic crisis represents a unique quasi-experiment with which social changes in crisis situations can be researched and lessons can be drawn for the future management of such crises. This project draws on existing data sets from the time before the crisis, in particular a representative sample of 1,200 Austrians from spring 2019. With the project, a new survey can be carried out in the spring of 2020 in the middle of the current crisis situation with the same target group. Citizens are asked about their perceived role in society. Based on a visual reflection task (Vogel & Willems, 2020) they should reflect on what they are doing for others and what others are doing for them. Building on the theory of the psychological contract, these answers are analyzed in relation to population demographics and motivation in the public service in order to understand prosocial attitudes and common civic behavior. A comparison of the data sets from the pre-crisis period with those from the crisis will provide practical and theoretical insights into the extent to which severe crises change the perception of one's own role in society and what effects they have on the prosocial behavior of citizens. Based on a visual reflection task (Vogel & Willems, 2020) they should reflect on what they are doing for others and what others are doing for them. Building on the theory of the psychological contract, these answers are analyzed in relation to population demographics and motivation in the public service in order to understand prosocial attitudes and common civic behavior. A comparison of the data sets from the pre-crisis period with those from the crisis will provide practical and theoretical insights into the extent to which severe crises change the perception of one's own role in society and what effects they have on the prosocial behavior of citizens. Based on a visual reflection task (Vogel & Willems, 2020) they should reflect on what they are doing for others and what others are doing for them. Building on the theory of the psychological contract, these answers are analyzed in relation to population demographics and motivation in the public service in order to understand prosocial attitudes and common civic behavior. A comparison of the data sets from the pre-crisis period with those from the crisis will provide practical and theoretical insights into the extent to which severe crises change the perception of one's own role in society and what effects they have on the prosocial behavior of citizens. Building on the theory of the psychological contract, these answers are analyzed in relation to population demographics and motivation in the public service in order to understand prosocial attitudes and common civic behavior. A comparison of the data sets from the pre-crisis period with those from the crisis will provide practical and theoretical insights into the extent to which severe crises change the perception of one's own role in society and what effects they have on the prosocial behavior of citizens. Building on the theory of the psychological contract, these answers are analyzed in relation to population demographics and motivation in the public service in order to understand prosocial attitudes and common civic behavior. A comparison of the data sets from the pre-crisis period with those from the crisis will provide practical and theoretical insights into the extent to which severe crises change the perception of one's own role in society and what effects they have on the prosocial behavior of citizens.