A study on prosocial behavior of wearing a mask and self-quarantining to prevent the spread of diseases underpinned by evolutionary game theory

In the wake of COVID-19, mask-wearing practice and self-quarantine is thought to be the most effective means of controlling disease spread. The current study develops an epidemiological model based on the SEIR process that takes into account dynamic human behavior toward those two preventive measures. In terms of quantifying the effect of wearing a mask, our model distinguishes itself by accounting for the effect of self-protection as well as the effect of reducing a potential risk to other individuals in different formulations. Each of the two measures derived from the so-called behavior model has a dynamical equation that takes into account the delicate balance between the cost of wearing a mask/self-quarantine and the risk of infection. The dynamical system as a whole contains a social dilemma structure because of whether to commit to preventing measures or seek the possibility of infection-free without paying anything. The numerical result was delivered along the social efficiency deficit, quantifying the extent to which Nash equilibrium has been improved to a social optimal state. PACS numbers Theory and modeling; computer simulation, 87.15.Aa; Dynamics of evolution, 87.23.Kg