Bibliographic Details
| Title: |
Conspiratorial Beliefs and Reduced Vaccine Acceptance: Understanding the Role of Perspective-Taking. |
| Authors: |
Wang, Cynthia S.1 (AUTHOR) scynthia.wang@kellogg.northwestern.edu, Deng, Yingli2 (AUTHOR), Whitson, Jennifer A.3 (AUTHOR), Jazaieri, Hooria4 (AUTHOR), Ku, Gillian5 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: |
Journal of Experimental Psychology. Applied. Jun2026, Vol. 32 Issue 2, p257-276. 20p. |
| Subject Terms: |
*COVID-19, *Vaccination status, Conspiracy theories, Perspective taking, Therapeutics, Communicable diseases, Public health, Vaccine hesitancy |
| Abstract: |
Surges in infectious diseases often bring illness and conspiratorial beliefs. Such beliefs can hinder the adoption of public health advice, including vaccination. Because conspiratorial beliefs are difficult to reduce once entrenched, it is essential to explore strategies that mitigate their impact on vaccine acceptance. We present perspective-taking as a novel intervention, testing whether the negative association between conspiratorial beliefs and vaccine acceptance is weaker when participants take the perspective of someone holding positive vaccine attitudes. In Studies 1A–1C, participants read excerpts from interviews with COVID-19-vaccinated individuals. Study 2 examined live conversations with individuals holding positive vaccine attitudes and tested the durability of the effects by measuring vaccine acceptance 2 weeks later, assessing whether the moderating effect of perspective-taking arose from enhanced psychological closeness. Studies 3A–3B extended the hypotheses to a fictitious disease to examine generalizability beyond COVID-19. Study 3A used a similar paradigm to Studies 1A–1C and tested the same hypotheses as Study 2. Study 3B assessed the moderating effect of perspective-taking through a public service announcement-style video designed to enhance ecological validity. We found general support for our hypotheses. This research is significant because it can lead to the development of strategies to combat vaccine hesitancy. Public Significance Statement: Individuals around the globe are increasingly exposed to infectious diseases. People seeking to make sense of this reality sometimes encounter (inadvertently or advertently) conspiratorial beliefs through media and face-to-face conversations. These conspiratorial beliefs are consequential in that they can decrease people's vaccine acceptance, yet effective interventions to address them are surprisingly sparse. This article demonstrates a novel intervention, engaging in perspective-taking, as a low-cost and scalable method to mitigate the adverse effects of conspiratorial beliefs. This research has broad relevance to professionals in the psychological sciences, public health, and medicine, as well as the general public, who will continue to be exposed to disease and related conspiracy theories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: |
Business Source Index |