COVID-19 and a biased public mentality toward infection and vaccination: A case of unrealistic optimism and social comparisons between the vaccinated and unvaccinated

Abstract

Unrealistic Optimism in the context of COVID-19 is described as the tendency to perceive peers as being more at risk of infection. To date, however, no research has proposed more specific comparisons. The present article not only replicates the most recent body of literature showing that people perceive themselves as less prone to COVID-19 infection than their peers, but fills the aforementioned gap by providing additional and more specific comparisons between those vaccinated and unvaccinated against COVID-19. Such comparisons may be crucial to curb the possibility of resurgence of COVID-19 by assessing how unvaccinated individuals perceive the probability of being infected by coronavirus. Some 622 Prolific—(un)vaccinated against COVID-19—users participated in an online quasi-experiment. Participants estimated the risk of COVID-19 infection for themselves, their peers or the average (un)vaccinated peer, which is a new addition to the literature. Results showed that there was an unrealistic optimism effect. Participants estimated their risk for infection as lower in comparison to others. Surprisingly, results showed that for unvaccinated people, vaccines seem to be an effective tool to reduce the risk of infection, but not for themselves.

Challenges of the normalization and resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic on public mentality

“…Doubtlessly the most convenient research method is the questionnaire survey. The study by Kulesza et al (2022) used an online quasi-experimental and cohort approach. Four of the articles employed cross-sectional designs (Tan et al, 2023; Fernández et al, 2023; Yang et al, 2023; Zhang et al, 2022), while four other studies used a longitudinal design with 2-wave data (Chen et al, 2022; Wei et al, 2022; Ye et al, 2022).…”

“…Zhang et al (2022) found that negative emotions had a significant indirect effect on discouraged behaviors but a nonsignificant effect on promoted behaviors, and a significant effect on individual behavior but a nonsignificant effect on adherence to local policies. Kulesza et al (2022) compared vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals' assessments of the risk of infection with COVID-19 and the role of unrealistic optimism and social comparison. Results showed that there was an unrealistic optimism effect; participants estimated their risk of infection to be significantly lower than that of others.…”

“…The theoretical basis for Dizon et al's (2023) study is the locus-of-hope theory (Bernardo, 2010), which proposes that hope can be self-determined (internal hope) or may involve external factors (external family, peers, spiritual hope). Kulesza et al (2022) based their study on the unrealistic optimism theory (Weinstein, 1980), which refers to the idea that people believe that negative events are less likely to happen to them than to others. Singh et al utilized one of Martin Seligman's positive psychological concepts, the PERMA (Positive emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, & Accomplishments) model (Seligman, 2011), which proposes that psychological resources can help people not only adapt to adversity but also cope with the negative consequences of adversity.…”

Past Refusals, Reasons and Future of COVID Vaccinations in Colleges

“…Hearing relevant information from doctors and scientific sources was positively associated with vaccine uptake while talking to other people and social media was associated with increased safety concerns as well as misinformation. Misinformation can considerably reduce COVID vaccine acceptance among the general population, probably more so among the younger college population some of whom perceive themselves as less prone to COVID-19 infection than others [7]. This may be due to unrealistic optimism (a tendency to perceive peers as being more at risk than you are, an illusion).…”

Exposing People to Others Not Following Recommendations Reduces Unrealistic Optimism. An Experiment During a Pandemic

“…More nuanced comparisons (previously and classically: between "participants" and a "close peer") have provided interesting additions to the picture of the Unrealistic Optimism bias during the COVID-19 era (Kulesza et al, 2022). In that study participants estimated the risk of COVID-19 infection for themselves and their peers, but also between (un)vaccinated participants, and (un)vaccinated peers.…”