To Avoid a Scapegoat Mechanism. Perception of COVID-19 Vaccination among Inhabitants of EU – a Study Based on the Reports of the Eurobarometer

Małgorzata Sławek-Czochra

doi:10.18290/rkult22132.5

Małgorzata Sławek-Czochra John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4732-1341

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18290/rkult22132.5

Keywords: René Girard’s theories, scapegoat, anti-Covid-19 vaccination, Eurobarometer, fear, vaccination enthusiasts, vaccination realists, vaccination sceptics, Worldometer's COVID-19 data, media information mode

Abstract

Focusing the anger of the community on a single individual the scapegoat makes it possible to stabilise it on new terms and to emerge from the chaos into which it falls in the pandemic. Instead of scapegoating, the focus should be on solving the problem itself with, for example, mass vaccination against Covid-19. The media play a vital role in promoting appropriate attitudes and behaviour during the pandemic.

The aim of the article is an analysis primarily aimed at demonstrating the relationship between fears (health, social and economical) and assessments of COVID-19 vaccination and media information, based on research of the Eurobarometer, carried out in all member countries of the EU in the period from the 20^th of March 2020 to the 30^th of June 2021. Three hypotheses were tested regarding EU inhabitants' assessments and fears of vaccination and the media information that differentiates between vaccination enthusiasts, realists and sceptics. Applied were a quantitative analysis of the content of reports, a qualitative analysis of the contents, comparative and analytical descriptive methods.

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