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Cultural Worldview and Preference for Childhood Vaccination Policy
Author(s) -
Song Geoboo,
Silva Carol L.,
JenkinsSmith Hank C.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
policy studies journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.773
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1541-0072
pISSN - 0190-292X
DOI - 10.1111/psj.12076
Subject(s) - vaccination , opposition (politics) , individualism , preference , vaccination policy , government (linguistics) , political science , social psychology , political economy , psychology , politics , sociology , medicine , law , economics , immunology , linguistics , philosophy , microeconomics
In the face of the reemerging threat of preventable diseases and the simultaneous vaccine risk controversy, what explains variations in A mericans’ policy preferences regarding childhood vaccinations? Using original data from a recent nationwide Internet survey of 1,213 A merican adults, this research seeks to explain differing public opinions on childhood vaccination policies and related issues of governance. As M ary D ouglas and A aron W ildavsky's grid‐group cultural theory of policy preference formation suggests, cultural biases have a significant impact on the formation of preferences toward various vaccination policies. Hierarchs are in support of mandatory vaccination, oppose religious and philosophical exemption, and believe the government should preside over vaccination‐related decisions. Fatalists strike a bold contrast in their opposition to mandatory vaccination policy and support for religious and philosophical exemptions and the role of parents in deciding on vaccinations. Falling between hierarchs and fatalists, egalitarian support for vaccinations is stronger than individualists‘.