← Quick Find

When it comes to vaccines - why are people talking about 'Going against the herd' ?

The vaccinated are ignorant, uncritical or eager to be shepherded by a paternalistic state

Reactance is a well-known psychological construct which describes an individual’s tendency to defend their autonomy when they perceive that others are trying to impose their will on them.

Individuals who have high reactance may respond to any health advice as an infringement on their ability to choose an action for themselves. High reactance has been consistently associated with vaccine hesitancy.

Reactance manifests in arguments proclaiming that the decision of whether or not to vaccinate must be completely free and autonomous. Reactance tends to be associated with a high sense of personal autonomy and empowerment, and with a view of civil liberties that includes the right to act contrary to social norms and political injunctions.

This theme emphasises the need to behave contrary to expectations, reject the ‘herd’ mentality and fight the perception that one is just a ‘statistic’.

Arguments may claim that vaccines are not ‘one size fits all’. Underlying these arguments is a perception that those who get vaccinated without question are ignorant, uncritical, or otherwise deficient, and that medical/government authorities are paternalistic and censor disagreements.

Is there any truth in it?

Messages about vaccines can sound condescending. People may feel that they are being talked down to from above and it is natural to be irritated by condescension. It can also be worrying to think that society is no longer engaging in critical thinking.

What could I say to someone fixed on this belief?

Dialogue between patients and healthcare professionals is most productive if it is guided by empathy, and an opportunity for the patient to affirm the reasons underlying their attitudes and to express understanding for that. That’s why it is important to understand the attitude roots behind people’s overt opinions. To affirm a person’s underlying attitude root does not mean we need to agree with the specifics of their argument. For example, we can acknowledge that:

Messages about vaccines can sound condescending. People may feel that they are being talked down to from above and it is natural to be irritated by condescension. It can also be worrying to think that society is no longer engaging in critical thinking.



Having set the stage through this (partial) affirmation, we can then proceed to correct the patient’s particular misconception.

Vaccinations have the power to protect us and our families from potentially life-threatening diseases, so deciding to vaccinate can be one of the most empowering medical decisions you make for yourself.

Portraying those who are vaccinated as blindly conforming is inaccurate, as many people who get vaccinated have put a lot of thought into their decision. They may have asked their healthcare providers for advice, and found out more about vaccines and how they protect us from diseases with very little risk of serious side effects.

en_GBEnglish