During the last weeks, there are reports of people who, apart from violating social distancing measures to slow down the advance of COVID-19, have committed unscrupulous acts such as spitting against Police officers, as well as on public highway surfaces knowing the high rates of contagion of the coronavirus.

In this regard, Carmen Bravo de Rueda, Psychologist at the Clínica Ricardo Palma, explained that these extreme cases might be of people suffering from some pathology such as passive-aggressive people, narcissism and others.

She said that some people that violate these rules usually do not go so far. However, these people also lack two important values that are developed and instilled during childhood: solidarity and responsibility.

“Having as a starting point the lack of these two components we reach more people. Parents are models for their children. Talking about responsibility, some parents are extremely protective and do not teach children to be responsible for very punctual acts such as allowing dirty clothes to be thrown out, making their bed, homework, among others.”

She said that at the time when children are learning behaviors, it is important to make them feel important but with certain responsibilities.

“If children try to do something and are criticized, according to their personality they can become either rebellious or insecure. If they are insecure, that is going to be a negative thing because they are going to be afraid of doing something and then they become rebellious”, she said.

The importance of being supportive

Ms. Bravo de Rueda indicated that the other value instilled from childhood is solidarity, where the example of parents also prevails.

“Regarding the young man who left his saliva and mucus on a train of Line 1 of the Lima Metro, we see no social responsibility and solidarity at all. These are narcissistic, selfish people who have grown up just thinking of themselves”, she said.

She said that one way to prevent the development of this personality in children is by teaching them to share anything of value such as clothes and toys. For example, every year as a family you can collect toys in good condition that will no longer be used to donate them, the same with clothes.

“Children should learn that each can contribute to the other. There is an Aesop fable called The Horse and the Donkey. I have used this story even with adults. It tells that a donkey was with a very large load and he asks the horse that was next to him for help. The horse refuses, and the donkey dies for carrying so much weight. Then, the horse is forced to carry not only the original load but the dead animal’s skin as well. This teaches us that if one is supportive everyone will be fine but if not, one will carry twice the burden”, she said.

The specialist said that people that intend to harm the health of others lack these values and, in the worst case, they may be suffering from serious illnesses that require treatment, since there is no valid justification for violating the safety of others.

Dr. Carmen Bravo de Rueda
Psychologist at Clínica Ricardo Palma