VP Harris Needs a Lesson on Human Behavior

At what point does the administration admit that this strategy isn’t working?

VP Harris spoke to Craig Melvin from NBC…

“We still have a number of Americans, that is in the millions who have not been vaccinated who could be vaccinated, and we are urging them TO be vaccinated because it will save their life.”

At what point does the administration acknowledge that these people aren’t going to get the shot? They’re just not going to do it.” Craig Melvin said. Smart guy, huh?

“I’m not giving up on people, Craig. I really don’t.” Harris replied.

Craig gets it. Millions of Americans get it. The Vice President and the administration don’t get it. This isn’t hope; it’s delusional.

Let’s get this VERY clear: this will not discuss whether or not people should get the vaccine. This is a conversation about human behavior and how to get someone to do something they don’t want to do.

1. No One Can Be Forced or Persuaded to Change.

No matter how smart we think we are. No matter how much we beg people. No matter how much we try to convince people it’s the right decision… No one can be forced to change.

I know that people think that they’re being logical whenever they try to persuade other people to change their opinion and do what they think is the right thing, but in all actuality, people can make their own decisions, and they will.

We see this all the time with drug addicts and alcoholics who choose or were compelled to go back to their drug or alcohol of choice no matter how much they hurt the people around them.

When it comes to the vaccine, people have to be able to make their own choices. Only when we acknowledge their free will to choose, will they have the ability to consider another choice. And just because we give them an option doesn’t mean they will agree with you.

2. People Must Have the Option to Choose the “Wrong” Choice.

Let’s get this clear: vaccines aren’t the right choice for everybody! Not everyone reacts in a healthy way, and some people’s bodies can’t take it.

Pretending that you have the right choice and your way is the only right way is the easiest way to get people to fight against you! Pretending that your choice is the right choice and theirs is the wrong no matter what is not an effective way to communicate.

People MUST be able to choose the “wrong” choice!

Remember when your parents tried to stop you from hanging out with the “bad” kids at school? Since they tried to stop you, it made you want to hang out with them more. Remember those moments, and how it made you feel to be forced to not see them anymore?

You wanted to do it because your parents didn’t want you to. You knew it was the wrong choice but because you wanted to do what you wanted. You were a teenager were free to make the wrong choice.

That didn’t stop you from the consequences of your choices, but sometimes consequences teach us a lot more than being forced to make a decision you don’t want.

3. Being Honest About Someone’s Freedom to Choose Isn’t the Same as Condoning their Decision.

There is a lie going on in the world. It says that if you allow people to have a choice then you’re condoning the wrong choice. That is not true.

Just because you acknowledge that people can make their own decisions does it mean you agree with them. I feel like the world would be a better place if people acknowledge this.

If you want to quit your job and hold a sign on the side of the road for your money, go for it. No one can stop you if that’s your dream.

If I say that, am I encouraging this decision? Heck no!! That is me acknowledging you can do whatever you want. Will your decision be free from consequences? Heck no!! You can make your own decisions about whatever you want to do with your life.

People can make their own decisions about vaccines. People can choose to get it. People can choose not to. People can sit around and stress about whether they should get it or not. They can do what they want because they’re humans, and they have free will over their own actions.

4. Pretending Like People Can’t Choose Causes Them to Fight

Let’s not talk about the elephant in the room. It’s not there. It doesn’t exist. If you talk about it, I will suppress you. The only way that we will fix it is if we don’t talk about it. If I have hope, then maybe it will go away… this is the same strategy the administration is taking. Silly, huh?!? (This can be a version of gaslighting btw.)

I really need the world to understand this: We can’t pretend there isn’t another choice!

You can get the vaccine. You don’t have to get the vaccine. Will you get consequences either way? Yes, positive or negative consequences.

You have a decision to make.

If you do not allow people to make their own decisions, they will fight you every step of the way.

People do not want to be forced into anything! That is why, for the most part, we no longer have arranged marriages. That is why we have so many options in today’s society because everyone wants to make their own decisions and feel like they’re unique.

If you want to pretend like people don’t have a choice to make and they MUST make the choice you believe is right, they won’t do it!

Now some people will, but there will be at least fifty percent of the population who fight you every step of the way.

So pretending that they don’t have a choice is not the way to convince them to do it.

5. People Want to Be An Outlier!

There will always be people who fight against the norm. They think they’re unique. They think that their problems are unique. They think that they’re being oppressed. They think that their lives are way worse than everybody else’s. Now not everybody, but most people think they’re unique specimens and they have unique experiences and their lives are different than everybody else’s.

And if people feel like they aren’t that unique, they will create a situation where they make themselves different. Most adults don’t want to just be seen as sheep. We want to look like we make decisions that are different than everyone else’s.

People want to be the outlier, the exception, and they will create problems in order to create the illusion of being the outlier.

This is a basic human behavior….

Maybe some people don’t notice it oh, but look around and see how people group up so they can pretend like they’re the exception.

6. Suppressing Choice Affirms That They Made the Right Choice

When people are not allowed to choose, and continue to be pushed, and continue to be criticized, and continued to be suppressed, they will believe that this is evidence that they made the right choice. And truthfully they are right.

People need to make their own choices. If they don’t have the freedom to make the choice, they will fight each step of the way. No one wants to be forced into anything.

Even if you believe that it’s the right decision, it doesn’t matter. They have to believe it, too. And if you suppress their voice, they will dig their heels in, and the conversation’s over.

7. Hope for a Person to Change Means Nothing to That Person

This is a problem with many many people in today’s society, they have more hope for people than they have an understanding of human behavior.

Hope does not change people. Your hope is inside you; it’s not inside them.

The hope has to be transferred to them before they can feel it and it causes them to change. But it’s not a guarantee. We all know people who we hope to change, but never do because they don’t want it for themselves.

Not understanding this is a simple, simple lesson on human behavior creates division that is unnecessary.

People have to make their own choices. The information has to be clear. Suppression of information creates skepticism and fear in the group that doesn’t want to follow the norm. The only way to beginning to reunite this country is by:

1. Allow people the freedom of choice.
2. Be honest that people can choose either decision.
3. Have discussions with people with opposing beliefs.
4. Realize that just because it’s right for you doesn’t mean it will be right for them.
5. Stop pretending our hope can change people.

I imagine that some people might fall under one of the above problems: thinking I care if you do or don’t get the vaccine.

I don’t care what you do. Call it careless. Call it condoning the other side. These are wrong assumptions.

The only way people will get the information they need to make the right choice is through discussing the options.

Let’s get a real conversation going about human behavior and acknowledge people’s autonomy.