First of all, there will be no return to normality as we knew it before, as many expect. Instead, there will be a transition to a new normal. The COVID-19 disease will not disappear. It will have mutated, its negative impact on the human body will have weakened, and we will have learned how to protect ourselves and live with it and its consequences in our lives. What are these consequences?
The most significant consequences mainly stem from the preventive and suppressive measures of the pandemic, which, whether mandatory or not, were implemented differently in each country and region.
I believe that social isolation and the distancing between people will remain in people’s consciousness for quite some time, even after the reopening of markets and schools. Interactions between strangers will stay distant and formal, while with our “own people,” we will feel closer.
However, the sense of fear and isolation will persist, as we continue to be bombarded with information ingrained in our minds about the virus’s transmissibility through close contact. This may reinforce a form of “xenophobia,” in the sense of avoiding anyone considered “outside our circle.”
Through the generalization filter that the human mind uses, this could extend to people with different ideas, beliefs, and behaviors, who will automatically and subconsciously be classified as “foreigners”—and thus, people to be distanced from—just as we avoided the virus’s spread. In other words, some individuals will continue withdrawing into themselves, significantly affecting their emotional world and, consequently, their mental health.
However, this state is unsustainable, as life progresses only through trial and trust in new circumstances (with calculated risk). Thus, some individuals will struggle to adapt to the new normal, remaining vulnerable to mental illnesses such as emotional isolation, depression, and anxiety disorders.
On the other hand, a portion of the population eager to reconnect physically and emotionally will experience surges in physical contact and social interactions. However, I assume this will have a more superficial nature, as it will be a reaction to isolation rather than a search for genuine connection.
Contributing factors to this situation include the anger and pressure we feel due to the prolonged lockdown. Beneath this anger lies the sadness of what we feel we have lost—what we did not experience and what we truly lost over the past year.
These conditions create fertile ground for intolerance and mutual blame, fostering violent outbursts as a way of releasing anger and pain. Consequently, this perception of the “foreigner” may lead to violent conflicts with “foreign elements”—such as immigrants and marginalized groups—in an unconscious attempt to eliminate the virus, which is also a “foreigner” that arrived uninvited to disrupt the existing order.
In short, anything that threatens the status quo will be hunted down, symbolizing the pursuit of the invisible threat that suddenly entered our lives and the loss of control by the ruling class.
Addiction to digital media, remote communication, and limited in-person interactions will have a massive impact on social and interpersonal relationships, which require physical touch and live interaction to establish themselves on both a physical and emotional level. This is likely to affect how people connect and the level of intimacy in romantic relationships.
The degree to which people entering or already in a relationship can handle closeness and togetherness will be significantly influenced. We expect to see more long-distance relationships—or what we might call “tele-relationships”—as well as a decreased tolerance for the challenges of in-person relationships.
Remote work, teleworking, online education, new hygiene and protection measures, and online shopping are habits that have integrated into our lives and are here to stay. After all, tele-relationships were already an emerging trend, which is expected to solidify, particularly among younger generations, with a distinct character that warrants further study.
The greatest challenge for humanity’s recovery and progress will depend on restarting the economy in each region. There will undoubtedly be opportunities for those entering new professions in health and health research (both mental and physical), biotechnology, the pharmaceutical industry, high technology, and the entertainment sector. As people seek to recover, they will crave more opportunities to experience joy again.
After all, the “fear of death” fuels this industry. In this context, we anticipate significant growth in tourism, dining, and entertainment industries, though social gathering measures will still be in place.
Overall, the marks left by this pandemic will linger for quite some time as a global social trauma. However, due to its universal impact, there will also be great mutual aid and support. While it may take decades to fully overcome the symptoms and scars left on those affected, there will also be positive developments.
As we say in systemic thinking, nature abhors a vacuum—thus, new points of balance will soon be found. Additionally, as one social movement grows, an opposing cultural or philosophical movement arises in response.
Therefore, in contrast to violence, a movement of peace and solidarity is expected to emerge worldwide.
In response to environmental destruction, ecological consciousness will take root in younger generations.
Against illness (both mental and physical), hubs of thought will be formed, emphasizing spiritual values and a return to genuine relationships and simple everyday moments of happiness.
And life goes on, ultimately overcoming the fear of death…