As our battle with the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, so does the contentious conversation around SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. For many people, the vaccines are the lifesaving answer that can move us and our society forward. To many others, they're seen as an invasive healthcare intervention forced on the masses without any regard for freedom of choice. Such polarizing perspectives can make it seemingly impossible to even have a discussion.
But what do we know from psychological science about approaching this difficult conundrum?
1. Begin with Empathy, Not Evidence
For many in the scientific community, we are accustomed to simply having the right answer and delivering it with precision. However, in some discussions, such as vaccine hesitancy, we have seen that the evidence is not enough in itself to reduce vaccine hesitancy. One of the reasons for this is that evidence without empathy can feel intrusive. No matter how many data charts we have or how many infographics we may use, it falls on deaf ears. If empathy is missing in our evidence, then we are not speaking to people; rather, we are speaking at people.
2. Consider the Context
As we now know, the hesitation that some communities have is rooted in decades or centuries of mistreatment.
