Mehmood, Sultan, Naseer, Shaheen and Chen, Daniel L. (2024) Teacher vaccinations enhance student achievement in Pakistan: The role of role models and theory of mind. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) ISSN 1091-6490, vol. 121 (n° 48).

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Abstract

We provide experimental evidence that role models can galvanize prosocial actions amid global crises, exemplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. In a randomized control trial comparing role models, cash incentives, and celebrity endorsements, only role models successfully mitigated vaccine reluctance and ameliorated pandemic-induced educational setbacks. Monthly tracking of vaccination status was achieved via QR-code-verified certificates. Theory-of-mind behavioral data on the mentalizing of others shed light on the mechanism underlying the role model effect. This research, from Pakistan, suggests how role models and theory of mind have the potential to play a role in tackling global challenges.