Can Social Concern Theory Explain Quarantine-Related Misbehavior During the COVID-19 Pandemic? An Inquiry in the Urban Context of Iran

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has precipitated quarantines in many urban settings, and rules have been enforced to ensure that citizens are complying with health-related mandates. However, anecdotal and empirical evidence confirm the prevalence of policy transgressions. Non-compliance with COVID-19 mandates can have severe consequences for individual health, societal fear, and the global economy. Thus, it is important to better understand the etiology of such misbehavior in the hopes of ensuring policy adherence. Using Agnew’s social concern theory as a conceptual framework, this study investigates quarantine-related misbehavior in the urban context of Rasht, Iran. Survey data of 393 university students indicate that social concern theory can explain quarantine-related misbehavior. Specific findings, implications, limitations, and directions for future research are discussed.

Social Concern Theory and Family Violence Among Latino Families

“…There has been a recent surge of research testing the core propositions of Agnew's (2014) social concern theory (Choi et l., 2022;Chouhy et al, 2017;Craig, 2017;Hong et al, 2019;Kabiri et al, 2024;TenEyck & Barnes, 2019). Unlike traditional criminological theories that largely portray justice-involved individuals as being in the pursuit of self-interest (e.g., Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1990), social concern theory maintains that people have biological inclinations to care for the welfare of others, desire close ties with certain individuals, follow certain moral intuitions, and conform to the behaviors of others.…”