On March 16, when Interior Minister Christophe Castaner spoke following Emmanuel Macron, no one was really surprised by what he announced. “Each person, for each trip, must have a document attesting on their honor the reason for their trip. "
At that time, Italy, put in a bell a week earlier, is the absolute model. And in Rome, citizens must have “written proof” on each of their outings, otherwise they will be fined.
A month later, this method, which can be exhausting on a daily basis, was not really exported. According to our research, only a handful of governments have resolved to ask their citizens for such a document (Greece and the United Arab Emirates). From Spain to Germany via the United Kingdom, Portugal, Belgium, Iran or even the various American states, recalcitrants are obviously verbalized without valid reason for travel. However, no written document, completed beforehand, is required.
"Completing this file is a real commitment for the citizen"
What if the French approach showed a lack of government confidence in its people? This is what part of the opinion suggests, while three additional certificates were released on Tuesday. They concern this time the entries on the national territory. "The collective conscience is less strong here than in Germany or in Great Britain, so we go through this kind of documents," advises Sandrine Raffin, specialist in changes, especially in health. In France, we are not in a priori trust. There is a certain resistance to injunction and discipline. "
Questioned by Le Parisien, the Ministry of the Interior rejects this vision of things. He especially sees in this certificate a good opportunity to raise awareness among the population. “Completing this file is a real commitment for the citizen. This allows him to understand the rules of confinement and the derogatory dimension of his exit, ”says Place Beauvau. "And the fact that we have implemented a digital version for smartphones since Monday proves that we have no doubts about the good citizenship of the French," continues the ministry. On the contrary, we have just simplified their approach. The Interior Ministry also adds that it followed in mid-March the only existing example in terms of containment, Italy.
"You buy a good conscience at low cost"
In the humanities, the use of this certificate corresponds in any case to what is called a "nudge" technique. Both public authorities and private companies are increasingly using this method, based on the study of behavioral sciences. It is a “soft incentive” to respect the rules and behave well without going through coercion and potential sanctions. The “nudges” are based on sensory incentives (marking on the ground, smells) and play on the emotions (guilt for example) to change behaviors.
Coralie Chevalier, researcher in cognitive and behavioral sciences at Inserm and the ENS, understands the ambition of these “microbarriers”. While fearing the opposite effect: “This paper can also legitimize exits. Because instead of asking me if my departure is morally justified, I will simply stick to ticking a box. And in this case, I buy myself a good conscience at low cost. "The risk, in fact, is to fall into paternalism and think in the place of the citizen," warns Sandrine Raffin.
Modulate the speech according to the audience
But how can we stimulate in our brains the spirit of solidarity rather than the fear of the gendarme? According to these two experts, the solution goes through two new lines of communication: psychology and empathy. Failing to find a vaccine and a treatment, "the solution today against the coronavirus today is behavioral," recalls Coralie Chevalier. In particular, it recommends adapting prevention messages and containment rules according to social categories and geographic areas.
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VIDEO. Confinement: in Paris, the first fines fall
Christophe Castaner tried this Monday to insist on this message. After recalling the indiscipline of certain French people, he immediately recognized the "difficulty" of respecting the instructions "when you live with others in 50 m2 in a district" rather than in "a pavilion with a garden". Before announcing, however, the following day, the creation of three new certificates, which are in addition to those already existing: the certificate of displacement, modified several times and now available in classic French and in simplified French, as well as proof of business trip.
