Building Stronger, More Trusting Relationships Across Health Belief Divides

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On Wednesday, November 4th from 1-1:50 p.m. in FXB G12 and online, please join us for the third installment in our Trust and Well-being Seminar Series, featuring Dr. David Bersoff.

All are welcome. Lunch provided.

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Event Description

In this year’s health study, we asked respondents to evaluate a set of health claims:

• Animal protein is healthier than plant-based

• Fluoride in water has no health benefits

• The risks of childhood vaccines outweigh their benefits

• Raw milk is healthier than pasteurized

• Acetaminophen can cause autism

• Vaccines are used for population control

About 25%-33% said each are true. Viewed in this way, the data seems to indicate that there is only a fringe element who hold such beliefs. But if instead of looking at the beliefs individually, we look at them in aggregate, we find that 70% of people hold at least one. The implication of this is that we may be developing our public health communication and intervention strategies focused in part on a mischaracterization of the people we most need to reach. If we are to increase the success of our health communications and interventions, we must move beyond counter productive stereotypes.

Speaker Biography

Dr. David Bersoff is the Head of Research for the Edelman Trust Institute, Edelman’s think tank dedicated to advancing the study of trust in society. As the Institute’s Chief Trust Scientist, Dr. Bersoff is responsible for ensuring the integrity and scientific value of all of Edelman’s trust-oriented research, which includes the annual Trust Barometer as well as yearly topical studies examining issues such as trust in the healthcare system.

Prior to joining Edelman, Dr. Bersoff spent 17 years as a consumer insights consultant at The Futures Company. In his last 5 years with the company, he served as its Chief Insights Officer.

Before entering the consulting world, he spent 12 years engaged in social science research at Yale and the University of Pennsylvania, where he was an assistant professor of social psychology and research methodology.

Dr. Bersoff holds a BA summa cum laude in Philosophy and a Ph.D. in social psychology, both from Yale University.

Speaker Information

Dr. David Bersoff

Head of Research, Edelman Trust Institute

Organizers

Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness

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