Steven Taylor

Steven Taylor is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver. He specializes in clinical psychology with a focus on pandemic-related psychological phenomena. His work examines the interplay between individual anxieties and group behaviors during health crises, particularly panic responses, social distancing compliance, and self-isolation challenges.

He authored The Psychology of Pandemics: Preparing for the Next Global Outbreak of Infectious Disease (2019), which predates the current pandemic. His research has been commissioned by the Canadian government to study pandemic-related behaviors like toilet paper hoarding and social gatherings defying quarantine measures. Taylor emphasizes the dual risks of over-reaction (panic buying) and under-reaction (pub attendance during lockdowns).

• Key research themes: Contagious fear dynamics, behavioral epidemiology, and vulnerable populations (e.g., elderly isolation)
• Expertise in psychological preparedness strategies to mitigate mass panic
• Historical analysis of pandemic responses including SARS comparisons

He warns of societal myopia in pandemic preparedness, advocating for systemic learning from each outbreak. Current concerns include mental health risks for isolated elderly populations during crises.