Why People Distrust Public Health: The Psychology of Institutional Skepticism by RJ Starr published on 2025-10-10T13:43:17Z Trust in public health didn’t disappear—it was eroded by history, power, and emotion. This essay examines the psychology of institutional skepticism: how betrayal, control, and uncertainty shape disbelief, and why distrust has become both a defense and an identity in a world where authority often feels less earned than imposed. Listen as Professor RJ Starr explores the emotional, social, and cognitive roots of distrust—and what it will take to rebuild faith in institutions without demanding it. Genre Speech
