(Newscko) ─ CDC reports that while COVID-19 vaccines are very effective, fueled by the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant, COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are once again increasing in nearly all states. When over 90% of deaths are among people who have not yet been vaccinated, regarding COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, why do politicians not support for what’s best for the country?

Formal and informal entities (e.g., governments, markets, and networks) need to govern in our social system. The lack of governance in our government system is a failure to adapt to the growing complexity. “Governance” refers to the structures and processes that ensure accountability, transparency, responsiveness, the rule of law, stability, equity and inclusiveness, empowerment, and broad-based participation. Where is the social responsibility of politicians to get people vaccinated and save people’s lives? Are they competent to perform, do they lack leadership qualities, or do they have hidden agenda to making the situation bad providing misinformation about the efficiency of Covid-19 vaccines, for own or their party’s benefit? Some psychological explanations would help us to find these answers.

Lack of influencing techniques needed to lead

Influencing others is a tested required ability, whether or not you will be successful. Irrational beliefs cause to have a lack of interest in logical arguments and facts to convince. Instead of providing inspiration and legitimating appeals, politicians implore only a selected group of people who follow their plan, dividing people for their fashion and benefit.

Abuse of power or an indiscriminate selectivity judgment

Abuse of power or an abuse of authority is “malfeasance in office” or “official abuse of power,” which hurts the performance of official duties. Abuse of power by political leaders has costly consequences to the nation, including that hurt the morale of people, lower productivity and GDP growth, corruption and unemployment, cause stress and related illnesses on followers, and harm the country’s reputation.

False beliefs

False beliefs involve political misperceptions, distorting public debate and undermining people’s ability to form important opinions. When politicians follow false beliefs, they are immature. The APA Dictionary of Psychology reveals children must infer in the false-belief task that they believe that others have intentions, desires, thoughts, perceptions, and emotions differently from one’s own, therefore, forms such choices. Consequently, these desires affect one’s actions and behaviors. For example, a Misinformation study by the Harvard Kennedy School which examined false beliefs about voter fraud in the 2020 Presidential Election reveals that most Trump voters falsely believed that election fraud was widespread and that Trump won the election. Among several costly consequences, false beliefs have an impact on health and well-being. According to NursesPrime, false beliefs are a hidden reason for destructive stress, making one have high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. Therefore, when politicians embrace false beliefs, it costs the whole nation.

Fear

Fear is an emotion caused by the perception or anticipation of danger. According to the APA, “fear is an effective way to influence voting behavior.” Thus, politicians use fear as a powerful motivator in elections. According to Dr. Joy Chacko “Fear makes a potential leader a perpetual follower or cheering leader for the rest of his or her life.” “Unfortunately, fear has no good news for you, only bad news, says Dr. Chacko.

Hidden Agenda

Politicians need to embrace governance and transparency to lead. Instead, they may have a hidden agenda. A hidden agenda is an ulterior motive. Unfortunately, when more and more people get vaccinated, the hidden goal of some politicians may not work. Therefore, they spread misinformation about the vaccine’s effectiveness (e.g., the effectiveness and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine), to let people not to take vaccines and save lives.

Indeed, some politicians have constantly endeavored narcissism, power motivation, spread false beliefs, and false self. Unfortunately, it appears they have more likely than others to represent all these destructive behaviors throughout history. Their horrible behaviors hinder human progress and take you and your country down.