This is how I navigate the antivaxxers in my life
With Christmas Day looming, many difficult conversations are being had. Decisions being made on whether unvaccinated relatives, partners, friends should attend gatherings. Whether it is safe or responsible to have the unvaccinated mingling with the vulnerable. The elderly grandparents or the immunocompromised sibling. The vaccine conversation is highly charged. Because people's lives are at risk.
Taking the time to talk through the persons concerns with respect and compassion, instead of accidentally further radicalising someone's belief by coming down too hard. Empathy might be the answer, as it so often is.
For months I’ve avoided conversations around COVID-19 and vaccines. I’ve turned away from people who have different views to my own. I couldn’t stop myself from reacting emotionally, or with an agenda. An agenda to change minds. Or by spouting facts that contradicted beliefs. I knew deep down, I couldn’t argue against feelings with facts. But, how could I have reasonable, respectful conversations with friends or colleagues when my own beliefs are so strong?
I spent my early twenties studying Microbiology and Immunology at university.
Unsurprisingly, my stance on vaccines is strong. I’m for them. My education prepared me well for the vaccine discussion. Armed with scientific studies, and detailed knowledge of how the vaccine works, I initially headed into conversations feeling confident I could win the other over.
However, when I heard myself, desperately trying to debunk claims I saw untrue, I felt myself push the other person further away. Even strengthen their point of view. I needed to reconsider how I was having these conversations. I wanted to seek to understand where they were coming from instead of shutting them down as quickly as possible. I wanted to understand how belief systems work and why it’s almost impossible to change the beliefs of another person. The percentage of our population choosing to remain unvaccinated is small. Yet, we all know someone. Someone we care about. Someone choosing to defy public health advice. Choosing to subscribe to alternative health information, at a time where vulnerable communities are most at risk.
How do we have effective conversations with this small percentage? This vocal minority. How do we avoid exacerbating extreme beliefs?
I’ve decided to drop the stats in these conversations. Instead, seeking to understand their concerns and focus on reminding whoever it is, they still have a community beyond whoever they are following. Although it feels counterintuitive, I think I’ve had much greater success in these conversations since.
What is a belief?
A belief is an idea that a person holds as being true.
Beliefs stem from a variety of sources; from an experience, the acceptance of societal and cultural norms or from what other people say. Our upbringing, our education.
Once we have adopted a belief, we seek sound evidence to reinforce its truth. What’s known as ‘confirmation bias.’ Once this happens, we are willing to defend it and are less likely to be open to rethinking. We actually receive a rush of dopamine when processing information that supports our beliefs. It feels good to stick to our guns; to stand up for what we believe in.
This is where beliefs can be dangerous and in the case of COVID-19, even deadly. Specifically, the conviction that vaccines are dangerous. When what is dangerous is not being vaccinated. However, no matter how many scientific studies show vaccines to be safe, Anti-Vaxxers or the 'vaccine hesitant' are no less convinced. What has been seen throughout history, is that when scientific evidence is presented that contradicts individuals beliefs, they simply discount it. It doesn’t provide the same ‘hit.’
What can have an impact is appealing to emotions. Seeking to understand the others point of view. Even though doing so is contradictive to the aim of defending or attacking with science. With proof.
Your visit to the GP should be fully funded as well.
What is a conspiracy
Conspiracy theories have always been here. Prevailing in times of crisis or desperation. The COVID-19 pandemic has created extremely fertile ground for conspiratorial beliefs.
A conspiracy theory can be defined as ‘a proposed explanation provided by a group of people who generally have some self-interested, malevolent goal.’
Karen Douglas, PhD of social psychology, researcher of beliefs in conspiracy theories and their consequences, states people are drawn to conspiracy theories to satisfy three psychological motives:
Epistemic Motives: the need for knowledge and certainty
Existential Motives: the need to be safe and secure; the need for autonomy.
Social Motives: the desire to feel good about one’s self and the groups they belong to (sometimes achieved by feeling one has access to information others don’t).
So, it’s not surprising that in this time of great uncertainty, where we feel decisions are being made on our behalf, beyond our control; conspiracies are flourishing. Throw in the widespread distrust of mainstream media and the ability to receive and share ‘news’ via social media; we couldn’t be more vulnerable.
It’s hard to say whether conspiracy theories have increased as a result of social media, but it’s certainly changed how we access information. It's easier for people to find this sort of information now, than it ever has been before.
So, if the wellness blogger you follow has swapped out posts about green smoothies to alternative theories on COVID-19 or vaccines.. How much of an effect does that have on our psyche?
What are the implications of individuals we admire suddenly planting seeds of extreme ideologies? And who is most vulnerable?
Distress over uncertainty leads the mind to search for an explanation. Conspiracies provide explanations for confusing, frightening events. They help make sense of the world. They make us feel safe. They provide certainty when insufficient data is available.
Essentially, a false explanation is better than no explanation.
Belief in conspiracy is motivated by the need to understand. To be in control and to feel socially connected.
It’s not surprising that the most vulnerable are those who feel ostracised or lack a sense of belonging. Or those whose status could potentially be threatened. For example, a business owner with a company on the brink of collapse because of a pandemic.
Belief in conspiracy, ironically, can reinforce the feelings of confusion, isolation and loneliness. As we have seen with the vaccine mandates. The consequence of not getting the vaccine, because of whatever belief, is limited access to places you were once welcome.
That sense of being ousted is what further radicalises beliefs. So, how do we keep the vulnerable safe without completely cutting the unvaccinated population out?
The conversation
With Christmas Day looming, many difficult conversations are being had. Decisions being made on whether unvaccinated relatives, partners, friends should attend gatherings. Whether it is safe or responsible to have the unvaccinated mingling with the vulnerable. The elderly grandparents or the immunocompromised sibling. The vaccine conversation is highly charged. Because people's lives are at risk.
While the rules in place physically exclude unvaccinated people, I don’t want to completely cut those people out of my life.
I want to aim for compassion and respect in my conversations. Taking the time to talk through the persons concerns with respect and good quality information. Instead of accidentally further radicalising someone's belief by coming down too hard.
At the heart of it, I am afraid to lose the ones I love because of our differing beliefs. Despite my frustration, judgement; even anger. I no longer feel compelled to change minds, to ‘save’ anyone. All I can do now is attempt to understand their thinking, to explain my own thinking and perhaps see if they’re open to rethinking.
Empathy might be the answer, as it so often is.
Author link - Charlotte Bell
Image - Florian
