Individualism, Collectivism, and Vaccine Hesitancy

A key underlying factor of vaccine rejectors

What’s the main difference between people who are and aren’t willing to get the vaccine?

If you ask some people, it has to do with politics. You don’t have to do a poll to realize that many people against the vaccine are Republicans. But if you wanted more proof, you could turn to the New York Times. After analyzing survey and administration data across the U.S., they found a trend: County’s with the lowest vaccination rates tend to be those where the majority re-elected Donald Trump.

Even after Trump came out in support of the vaccine though, not much changed. A poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 80% of Republicans said that Trump’s endorsement would not make them more likely to get the shot.

It’s easy to blame Republicans, but I fear we’re missing the bigger picture.

Many people I know are vaccine-hesitant. They despise Trump and are some of the biggest non-conservatives. They believe in science. Yet, they say they won’t get the vaccine until they really, really need to. If a job or situation forces them to, they will. But they’re not confident enough to willingly get a shot.

When people don’t behave in the way we want them to, it’s easy to write them off. The truth is that the vaccine is something new. If people didn’t have questions or concerns, that should be a concern for society itself. Instead of judging these comments, the key might be to understand them.

People who are vaccine-hesitant will outline multiple reasons. There is a key underlying factor though: They operate from an individualist mindset.

Individualism

Individualism is defined as:

“A social pattern that consists of loosely linked individuals who view themselves as independent of collectives.”

In North America, we are heavy individualists. As people, we focus and depend on ourselves. As a society, individualism looks like fewer social supports, like health or childcare.

Why do we favor this way of living?

Research suggests that individualism was developed over time. The main factors were likely economic systems and the decreased likelihood of pathogens.

But when happens when pathogens increase and society still stays individualistic?

It makes people less likely to get a vaccine unless it directly benefits them. That is, if you’re high risk and operate with an individualistic mindset, you’ll oblige. If you’re low-risk, you’ll take your chances.

An Israeli study found that soft and hard-individualists valued “personal choice” more.

Individualism looks out for itself. These people make decisions tailored to them without much outside input.

The “it’s not about you, it’s about others” argument won’t work. They genuinely don’t see it as their issue.

They might consider their COVID-19 personal risk low. Although the risk of the vaccine might also be low, why would they take the chance if they don’t need to? What if they’re the rare unlucky one who gets severe side effects or dies?

Collectivism thinks, “it’s better that one dies rather than a few hundred thousand.” Individualism thinks, “I don’t care who dies, as long as it’s not me.”

A perfect example of this sparked public uproar in late April.

In his podcast, Joe Rogan gave some unsolicited advice, “If you’re like 21 years old, and you say to me, ‘Should I get vaccinated?’ I’ll go no.”

Collectivism

Given that individualism was, in part, born out of a decrease in pathogens, should an increase make us reevaluate collectivism?

Collectivism can be defined as:

“Any of several types of social organization in which the individual is seen as being subordinate to a social collectivity such as a state, a nation, a race, or a social class.”

People who value collectivism make decisions with others in mind. Before questioning how it impacts them personally, they evaluate the larger implications it could have for the group. In society, this could look like more social supports and shared resources.

Although other countries as a whole, like Japan, value collectivism, it’s more of a personal trait in North America.

Society praises individualism and someone who only relies on themselves. It’s an illusion though. That’s not how life works. We need other people to support us — even in the most basic ways. Unless you’re a survivalist, you need someone to pay you so you can pay for shelter, food, etc.

Before capitalism, we operated in groups of other people. Paleolithic bands were likely made up of about 25 people. And 25 of those groups could be defined as a tribe.

Today, many of our parents give us the boot at 18. We’re lone wolves in the world, but there’s a hidden worldwide pack that links us.

Thanks to globalization, many countries are easily interconnected. What someone does over there, affects someone here. If the virus is spreading in Michigan, it has the potential to affect unvaccinated people in other states. If the variant in another country is strong enough, it could spread and infect vaccinated people across the U.S.

As much as we think borders separate us, they don’t. Your house’s four walls, town sign, state or country border are only a metaphor. And it’s one that doesn’t reflect reality.

People who value collectivism are less likely to be vaccine-hesitant. Even though they might not care about being protected personally, they contemplate the fallout of their inaction. If they don’t get a shot, what if they get sick, and pass it onto someone else? What if it contributes to a virus mutation, making the current vaccines useless?

With a collectivist mindset, even if you’re not high-risk, you’ll get the shot for the greater good. Since you understand people are interconnected, you may have questions, but you’ll still roll up your arm after they’re answered.

While the Rogan’s of the world will assess their personal risk, the Facui’s of the world will assess their risk in a larger context.

“You’re talking about yourself in a vacuum,” Dr. Anthony Fauci said in a daily update in response to a vaccine question.

“Even if you don’t have any symptoms, you’re propagating the outbreak.”

“It’s likely that you, even if you have no symptoms, may inadvertently and innocently then infect someone else who might infect someone who really has a problem with a severe outcome.”

As usual, Fauci has science backing him up. A recent Chinese study concluded that it will be hard to achieve herd immunity if we make our decisions based on individualism. Their research was aimed at forming strategies to encourage vaccination. The authors found that collectivism was more likely to motivate people because it encouraged them to consider their contributions to society.

Conflicting Messages Contributing to Hesitancy

Perhaps the reason for vaccine hesitancy is society’s conflicting messages on individualism versus collectivism.

In North America, we value individualism. While we’ll share our roads, we won’t share our healthcare or resources.

Recently though, we’ve been asked to go against that mindset. Even if we’re not high risk, health experts want us to get the vaccine. This is a collectivist mindset.

This abrupt change can be confusing. How can we ask people to value collectivism when we’ve always praised individualism?

While everyone will have their personal mindset, we’re no doubt influenced by society. We’re being asked to give up our individuality for a vaccine, yet accept having our backs turned on us next time. The reality is many people will think of others but others won’t think of them when they can’t afford an upcoming medical procedure or bill. In other words, we’re asked to put others first yet accept being put last in any other healthcare scenario.

This isn’t how collectivism works. It’s supposed to be is give and take.

When the messages on collectivism are confusing, people will be confused. And they won’t get vaccinated.