Interpersonal distance: modulation of individual and social behaviour related to the COVID-19 pandemics

Related to the Covid-19 outbreak, many countries all around the world have decided to impose restrictions to slow down the spreading and contain the infection, ranging from suggesting physical- distancing to imposing the lockdown of entire country. In this context, it is highly plausible that the fear of being infected, the physical distancing imposed by governments along with individual priorities, might have an influence on the distance we keep with others. To investigate this issue, we devised: 1) an online survey assessing demographics, the opinions toward quarantine, the self-reported altruism, the perceived vulnerability to disease and a self-report regarding moral attitudes; 2) an online task to test the interpersonal distance participants keep with others depending on the gender, the status of other’s infection (positive or negative to the COVID-19 test or not tested) and whether the other is wearing or not protective equipment.