To the detriment of animal health, humans do not always follow biosecurity protocols. Human behavioral factors have been shown to influence willingness to follow biosecurity protocols. Research from the University of Vermont underscores the importance of peer-to-peer demonstration of biosecurity measures to improve biosecurity compliance and can be simply summarized as monkey see, monkey do.
In the context of the coronavirus pandemic, if you wear a mask, stay six feet away and wash your hands others may readily mimic that behavior.
Source: Frontiers in Veterinary Science, March 27, 2020. Link. Research results from University of Vermont provide evidence that participants changed their behavior when they observed a simulated worker making a choice to follow or not follow a biosecurity protocol.
The human behavioral component of animal biosecurity is not well understood, but worker decisions at the operational level have direct economic and sociological consequences when an outbreak occurs.
See also: Monkey See, Monkey Do? The role of mirror neurons in human behavior, Association for Psychological Science. Link.
INSIGHTS: There’s no consensus on the origins of monkey see, monkey do. References to Jamaica in the 1800’s, 1920’s children’s books, children’s songs with varying lyrics and even Eminem make the Google search entertaining.
For parents at home with youngsters, here’s a YouTube video for a singing break with the kiddos. < link >