A lack of problem-solving skills and rigid thinking linked to vaccine refusal, study finds

[teach1st]

A lack of problem-solving skills and rigid thinking linked to vaccine refusal, study finds
Pyspost.org, 2/26/2023

A new study published in Environmental Research and Public Health suggests that individuals who struggle with problem-solving and demonstrate absolutist thinking, political conservatism, and xenophobia are more likely to refuse to get vaccinated. These findings indicate that a focus on improving problem-solving skills may result in improvements in public health due to higher vaccination rates.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused over a million deaths in the United States in the past two years. The mass vaccination campaign that started in December 2020 contributed significantly to controlling the spread of the virus. However, vaccine skepticism and hesitancy continue to be hurdles in effectively managing COVID-19 infections.

The research team hypothesized that problem-solving skills and socio-cognitive polarization are two constructs associated with vaccine acceptance. Problem-solving skills involve the ability to generate new ideas and new methods to consider the problem at hand. Problem-solving may require individuals to think flexibly to expand their thinking beyond what they previously understood.

Socio-cognitive polarization includes measures of conservative political ideology, absolutist thinking, intolerance of ambiguity, and xenophobia. According to the research team, “people who score high on [socio-cognitive polarization] may be less likely to handle complexity and seek out alternative explanations when processing information.”

https://www.psypost.org/2023/02/a-lack-of-problem-solving-skills-and-rigid-thinking-linked-to-vaccine-refusal-study-finds-68568

The study, “Not getting vaccinated? It Is a matter of problem‐solving abilities and socio‐cognitive polarization“, was authored by Alice Cancer, Carola Salvi, Alessandro Antonietti, and Paola Iannello.

[Freethinker65]

1. As designed.

The GOP followed Trumps lead, hoping the virus would affect major cities (Democratic strongholds), so allowed slow walking of aid and even confiscation of State purchased masks at the beginning. Unfortunately, the GOP forgot their undereducated base was more likely to believe their manufactured fear of vaccines and masks.

[grumpyduck]

2. I'm not a PhD shrink, but

I've noticed for years that a lack of problem-solving abilities jives with a lack of imagination which jives with lack of thinking.

Yup, that covers a lot of magats, all right.