Beliefs can be hard to alter when it comes to conspiracy and anti-vaccination.
Researchers in the UK have investigated the relative influence of ‘conspiracy’ (anti-vaccination) versus ‘anti-conspiracy’ (evidence-based) information on intention to vaccinate a child. Participants were presented with arguments based on accepted research either before, or after reading arguments based on popular conspiracy theories concerning vaccination. Whilst anti-conspiracy arguments increased intention to vaccinate a fictional child, this was the case only when presented prior to conspiracy theories. Participants’ own prior beliefs around vaccination were also mediating factors. The researchers suggest that while people can be inoculated against anti-vaccine conspiracy theories, once a person’s beliefs are established, they are hard to shift.
DOI: 10.1111/jasp.12453
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