“What have you done?” Accounting for Covid-19 lockdown breaches on talk radio

What is it about?

This research paper examines how people publicly account for their actions when they break lockdown rules during the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors analyze phone-in calls to BBC radio shows in which callers admit to breaking lockdown restrictions. The study focuses on how callers use their accounts to justify their actions and build their moral persona, while also being held accountable by hosts, expert guests, and the participating audience. The authors specifically look at how callers present licenses to breach the rules, mitigate harm through their actions, and construct their decisions as informed and common-sensical in the face of moral dilemmas posed by the pandemic. Their analysis reveals that accounts are complex "extended objects" that combine different action components to create a coherent narrative. Ultimately, the paper offers insights into how morality is constructed and negotiated in a time of crisis and how public discourse shapes our understanding of acceptable behaviour in times of pandemic.

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Why is it important?

It demonstrates that studying accounts is essential for understanding how individuals make sense of and navigate complex social situations, particularly those involving potentially transgressive behavior. Accounts offer valuable insights into moral reasoning, decision-making processes, the negotiation of social norms, the construction of moral personhood, and the dynamics of accountability in social interactions.