The Psychology of Vaccination

Why do some people choose to be vaccinated and others do not? What is the difference between vaccine hesitancy and anti-vaccinism? What can social psychology tell us about attitudes towards vaccination?

The Psychology of Vaccination identifies the social psychological drivers of vaccine mindsets, to explore why some people choose to be vaccinated, some are hesitant, and others refuse. It explores the socio-demographic factors related to vaccine hesitancy and considers the role of motivation in making this health decision. The book focuses on how individuals are social beings, inserted into a web of influences that guide their behaviour, and considers the impact this may have on their health choices.

Not only aimed at the convinced, but also for all those who have doubts about vaccination, The Psychology of Vaccination offers an insightful look at our health behaviours and considers whether it is possible to affect health behaviour change.

Olivier Klein is a Professor of Social Psychology at the Université libre de Bruxelles, Belgium
Vincent Yzerbyt is a Professor of Social Psychology at the Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium.
They were both involved in the ’motivation barometer’, a large-scale project that tracked attitudes towards vaccination (and other health behaviours) across the COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium.