title: Dynamic social representations of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic: Shifting patterns of sense-making and blame.
abstract: We investigate dynamics of public perceptions of the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic to understand changing patterns of sense-making and blame regarding the outbreak of emerging infectious diseases. We draw on social representation theory combined with a dramaturgical perspective to identify changes in how various collectives are depicted over the course of the pandemic, according to three roles: heroes, villains and victims. Quantitative results based on content analysis of three cross-sectional waves of interviews show a shift from mentions of distant collectives (e.g., far-flung countries) at Wave 1 to local collectives (e.g., risk groups) as the pandemic became of more immediate concern (Wave 2) and declined (Wave 3). Semi-automated content analysis of media coverage shows similar results. Thematic analyses of the discourse associated with collectives revealed that many were consistently perceived as heroes, villains and victims.
authors.affiliation: 1University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mayor
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Eicher
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bangerter
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gilles
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Clémence
authors.forename: Eva G T
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Green
keywords: 2009 H1N1 pandemic virus; emerging infectious diseases; public perception; social representation theory