A psychologist who has worked on Love Island and Big Brother in
the past has revealed why she reckons the COVID-19 pandemic could actually help
strengthen our interpersonal relationships.
Honey Langcaster-James explained the social psychology
surrounding an external "other" - in this case, coronavirus.
"Add this to our shared sense of values as we more obviously
and overtly engage in a joint purpose," she wrote for Sky News, "And a shared
perception that we are all part of something big and are on a common mission,
and you have a whole host of powerful predictors for increased relationship
satisfaction."
She added that we, as a collective, have been reminded
during lockdown that we value closeness and friendship - and as such will return
to these relationships post-lockdown with a fresher, more positive outlook.
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Being housebound with loved ones might even serve to
reinvigorate one-on-one relationships that had maybe fallen off a bit.
She continued: "Being in very close proximity to one
another might actually reignite the flame in a previously cooled romantic
relationship, or you may have a sudden desire to nip out and share a few words
over the back fence with your neighbours even though previously you only really
acknowledged them at Christmas."
Social distancing also has a role to play - compelling us to
reach out to those we'd ordinarily ignore.
Honey rounds off her article with a message of hope for the
future: "'We are all in this together' has become a familiar phrase.
"I wonder whether this virus has turned our sense of 'me' on its head, and reminded us that it is 'we' that really matters after all."
