Unmasking Social Attitudes: Probing the Pandemic's Effects on Individual and Group Perception

The thesis investigates the profound impact of face masks on social perception and intergroup attitudes during the COVID-19 pandemic when face masks evolved from a medical tool to a globally recognized symbol of safety, compliance, and social responsibility. The research spans 2021 to 2023, capturing different phases of the pandemic in Italy and its effects on person and group perception. Since COVID-19 profoundly affected social interactions and the perception of others, the present research assessed with different perspectives the socio-cognitive changes across the pandemic. Specifically, the present thesis aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how face masks, as a newly-established social norm during the pandemic, influenced individual perception and intergroup attitudes. It explores the shift in perception due to face masks, the implicit and explicit attitudes towards mask-wearing, the role of contextual factors, and the effects on group dynamics, offering valuable insights into the dynamics of social perception in the face of global crises.