The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Social Imaginary of the Individual and the Adopted Forms of Symbolic Expression

Abstract

This  study  aimed  to  analyze  the  impact  of the  COVID-19  pandemic  on  the  social imagination  of the Algerian  individual,  focusing  on patterns  of symbolic  and behavioral expression  during  the  crisis.  It  adopted  a  descriptive  analytical  approach  and  relied  on interviews with a sample of 50 individuals from diverse backgrounds. The results revealed variations in representations, including religious, cultural, and political aspects, alongside the emergence of new practices  such as traditional medicine and social distancing. The study concluded  that  the  pandemic  brought  about  a  transformation  in  the  symbolic  and  value system,   calling   for   the   overcoming   of  preconceived   notions   and   understanding   the phenomenon  from  a  sociological  interpretive  perspective  that  incorporates  the   cultural dimension in crisis analysis.