Facing the unvaccinated: emotions, stereotypes, and the desire for punishment during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany.

Crises like the COVID-19 pandemic bring along challenges for individuals and society. In the case of Germany, vaccination against COVID-19 was identified as the primary measure to overcome the pandemic. This put those individuals in the spotlight who did not decide for it. This paper aims to analyze how vaccinated people perceived the group of unvaccinated individuals and whether they wished to punish those who did not contribute to ending the pandemic by vaccination. For this purpose, an online survey was conducted in the spring of 2022. Two hundred eighty-five answered the questionnaire. As a result, many respondents tried to make the best of the pandemic, although many reported negative emotions. Stereotypes of unvaccinated individuals revealed prejudices. Data also demonstrate an attempt to reduce contact with unvaccinated individuals as far as possible and an openness to discrimination or a desire for punishment. Although data result from a relatively small study, they can provide an illustrative example that can stimulate considerations of possible consequences and to further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]