In a world still grappling with the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, an unexpected form of social division has emerged. A study led by researchers Alexander Bor, Frederik Jørgensen and Michael Bang Petersen shows that vaccination status has become a new basis for discrimination in society, with vaccinated people turning one-sidedly against unvaccinated people. This comprehensive study, spanning 21 countries and five continents, sheds light on the complex social consequences of vaccination campaigns worldwide.
Vaccinated people have a strongly negative attitude towards unvaccinated people
The results of the study are both surprising and disturbing. It shows that vaccinated people display discriminatory attitudes towards the unvaccinated to an extent comparable to, or even greater than, the discrimination usually shown towards immigrants and minority groups. These attitudes manifest themselves in the form of negative emotions, stereotypical and exclusionary behaviour, particularly in the family and political context.
Cultural differences and norms of cooperation
One fascinating finding of the study is that the strength of these discriminatory attitudes varies from culture to culture. The researchers found that discrimination was more pronounced in societies with strong norms of co-operation. This suggests that the vaccinated may view the unvaccinated as “free riders” who benefit from collective immunity without contributing to it themselves.
Psychological mechanisms behind the attitudes
The researchers link these findings to earlier studies on the psychology of cooperation. People tend to react negatively to people who are perceived as stowaways in cooperative situations. In the case of COVID-19 vaccination, the vaccinated see themselves as contributing to public health, while the unvaccinated are perceived as merely benefiting from the protection of others without doing anything themselves.
Wider implications and ethical dilemmas
The study points out that this polarisation can have far-reaching consequences that go beyond personal relationships. There are indications that these attitudes could potentially lead to restrictions on the fundamental rights of the unvaccinated being favoured by too many politicians and policy makers, raising serious ethical questions about the balance between public health measures and respect for individual choices and rights.
Asymmetric discrimination and its effects
One notable finding of the study is that discrimination appears to be asymmetrical. While vaccinated people consistently express negative attitudes towards the unvaccinated, there is very little evidence that the unvaccinated harbour similar prejudices against the vaccinated, with the exception of some negative feelings in Germany and the United States. This asymmetry provides further insight into the dynamics of this new form of discrimination and social division.
Methodology and data collection
For the study, three conjunctive experimental studies were conducted with a total of 15,233 participants. This robust methodology enabled the researchers to quantify discriminatory attitudes between the vaccinated and unvaccinated across a broad cultural spectrum. The use of fictitious profiles in the experiments enabled a causal analysis of attitudes.
Impact on future health crises and social cohesion
These findings have important implications for tackling future health crises. They emphasise the need to balance effective public health strategies with measures to prevent social divisions. Policy makers and health communicators must not continue to create or reinforce discriminatory attitudes.
Theoretical context and previous research
The study builds on and extends previous research on vaccination psychology and cooperation. The researchers draw parallels with studies that have shown that people tend to be less generous towards people who are perceived as not contributing to the “common good”.
Conclusion and future research directions
This study sheds light on a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic: the emergence of a new form of social discrimination based on vaccination status. The vaccine has led to new divisions in society. Understanding and addressing these attitudes will be crucial to maintaining social cohesion after this global health crisis. Future research should examine the long-term effects of these attitudes and explore strategies to mitigate social divisions. In addition, more detailed studies on how these attitudes vary between different demographic groups and cultural contexts are needed to develop more nuanced and effective interventions.
The massive wave of hatred fuelled by the media in particular against the unvaccinated, and the difficulty of overcoming the censorship that still applies to anything that does not conform to the public narrative, has probably also contributed to the severe social distancing we continue to experience.
