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Predicting climate change risk perception and willingness to act
Abstract
We extended a recent model of climate change risk perception (van der Linden, 2015) to predict the risk perception of Australians and their willingness to engage in mitigation behaviours (N = 921). Affect, mitigation response inefficacy, and descriptive norms were the most important predictors of risk perception, highlighting the influence of affective, cognitive, and socio-cultural factors. Affect and mitigation response inefficacy were also important predictors of behavioural willingness, but socio-cultural influences (free-market ideology, prescriptive norms, and biospheric values) played a relatively larger role in explaining the variance of behavioural willingness. Structural equation modelling provided further evidence that risk perception and behavioural willingness are separable constructs, as some factors in the model had direct effects on willingness independent of risk perception. We discuss the need for future research to develop a comprehensive model of behavioural willingness, and the need for public communication to combat mitigation response inefficacy.
... Experiential processes refer to affective 355 evaluations of personal experience with climate change (e.g., exposure to extreme weather events) and/or indirect vicarious experience (e.g., media representations) that attach negative risk-as-feelings (Akerlof et al., 2013;Leiserowitz, 2006;van der Linden, 2015). Cognitive factors such as levels and accuracy of climate change knowledge underpin reasoning about risk severity and have found to be positively associated with climate risk perceptions (van der Linden, 2015; Xie et al., 2019). In our model, we express as a function of both experiential and cognitive processes as shown in Eq. (19): 360 ...
... age, gender, income and educational level) in our model since they have been found to be relatively insignificant predictors (Xie et al., 2019). Socio-cultural factors, such as individual value orientations and norms surrounding climate mitigation (Xie et al., 2019), are implicitly included as weights assigned within the cognitive and experiential processes (i.e., averaging times and sensitivities). ...
... age, gender, income and educational level) in our model since they have been found to be relatively insignificant predictors (Xie et al., 2019). Socio-cultural factors, such as individual value orientations and norms surrounding climate mitigation (Xie et al., 2019), are implicitly included as weights assigned within the cognitive and experiential processes (i.e., averaging times and sensitivities). Pro-environmental values and norms, for instance, would suggest a higher weight and therefore a stronger risk perception. ...
Integrated assessment models (IAMs) occupy a central role in understanding and assessing the intricate interlinkages within the human-climate system for informing climate mitigation and adaptation strategies. However, there has been limited work on explicitly representing the internal social system dynamics that underlie human behavioural responses to climate change within IAMs. Instead, behavioural change and demand-side strategies are assessed with external, non-probabilistic narrative-based scenario analyses. In this paper, we introduce an alternative fully endogenous behavioural change modelling framework within the FRIDA v2.1 model, operationalized with the system dynamics method. Applied to the context of dietary behaviour, the framework models behavioural change as a function of perceived accessibility, descriptive norms, and personal norms, constrained by accessibility and past behaviour. By doing so, it captures the complex social-economic-cultural-environmental feedback processes within the human-climate system that dynamically determine per capita food demand and consumption. Our results show that endogenizing human behaviour alters future projections of emission behaviours and thus climatic conditions. Importantly, using an uncertainty approach, our results account for a range of plausible behaviours within the 95 % confidence bounds, which includes scenarios where we observe reversals of sustainable behavioural change in the future. We contribute to the limited work on human behaviour in IAMs, extending the complexity of current representations. Future work will extend this framework to other domains of high-impact behaviours, enhancing the robustness of IAMs for assessing demand-side mitigation.
... Studies have shown a correlation between higher levels of knowledge related to climate science concepts and higher levels of concern or perceived risk about climate change among students (Aksit et al., 2018;Zobeidi et al., 2020) and adults (Guy et al., 2014;Libarkin et al., 2018;Shi et al., 2016;Stoutenborough & Vedlitz, 2014). In addition, past research has found that individuals' knowledge of climate change and their risk perceptions are crucial drivers of their pro-climatic actions and willingness to engage in mitigation efforts (Kolenatý et al., 2022;Xie et al., 2019;Yu et al., 2020). For instance, in their study with secondary Czech students, Kolenatý et al. (2022) found that that greater climate knowledge positively influenced concern and self-efficacy, which in turn increased willingness to engage in pro-environmental actions. ...
... Risk perception of climate change can be conceptualized as individuals' subjective assessments and feelings about the potential harm and adverse effects associated with anthropogenic climate change (Van der Linden, 2014). There has been growing research in the literature regarding investigating secondary students' perceptions of the risks associated with climate change (e.g., Ambusaidi et al., 2012;Boyes et al., 2014;Cosby et al., 2025;Deng et al., 2017;Hermans & Korhonen, 2017;Hickman et al., 2021;Özdem et al., 2014) while most of the related studies have primarily targeted adults and the general public in various countries (e.g., Lee et al., 2015;Leiserowitz et al., 2022;Sivonen, 2023;Spence et al., 2012;Steentjes et al., 2017;Thaker et al., 2023;Xie et al., 2019). In addition, the findings of the literature on secondary students' risk perceptions related to climate change have been inconsistent as some studies showed students attributing high levels of risk or concern to climate change (Ambusaidi et al., 2012;Boyes et al., 2014;Chhokar et al., 2012;Cosby et al., 2025;Tranter & Skrbis, 2014) while other studies reported low to average levels of perceived risk or concern among secondary students Hermans & Korhonen, 2017;Özdem et al., 2014). ...
... The temporal distancing observed in this study has important implications for climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. When individuals perceive climate change as a distant future threat, it can lead to a sense of complacency and reduced urgency in addressing the issue (Spence et al., 2012;Xie et al., 2019). This can hinder the implementation of effective mitigation strategies and delay the development of necessary adaptation measures. ...
This study investigated a sample of Saudi Arabian high school students' understanding of science concepts underlying climate change and their risk perceptions associated with the adverse impacts of climate change before and after participating in an elective environmental science course. A previously validated climate change content knowledge assessment and two Likert-scale items measuring climate change risk perception were administered to 51 eleventh-and twelfth-grade students. The results showed that students had a limited understanding of some key climate change concepts before the course, particularly regarding the greenhouse effect. However, their understanding significantly improved after completing the course, highlighting the positive impact of formal instruction on climate science literacy. Additionally, students' risk perceptions of climate change were moderate before the course and increased significantly by the end, especially for long-term impacts. This may suggest that increased knowledge may contribute to heightened risk perception, although the relationship between the two was not statistically significant in this study. The findings underscore the importance of incorporating environmental science courses into secondary education to enhance students' climate literacy and promote informed decision-making regarding climate change, particularly in regions like the Middle East where climate change poses significant challenges.
... For climate change, an extensively studied model is the Climate Change Risk Perception Model (CCRPM), originally proposed by van der Linden (2015), and later replicated and adapted by Xie et al. (2019), van Eck et al. (2020), Elshirbiny and Abrahamse (2020), Gilbert and Lachlan (2023), Thaker et al. (2023), and Castellini et al. (2024). The original CCRPM proposed four dimensions: sociodemographic, cognitive (knowledge), experiential (affect, personal experience) and socio-cultural (social norms, values) factors (van der Linden, 2015), and van Eck et al. (2020) more recently added perceived scientific consensus, and trust in sources of information. ...
... The model has been found to explain up to 84 % of variance in climate change risk perception (van Eck et al., 2020). Extensions of the original model have also examined behavioural willingness 1 including policy support for climate change actions, where it explained around 50 % of variance (Xie et al., 2019), and perceived health risks of climate change, where distinct patterns were found compared to more general risk perceptions (Thaker et al., 2023). ...
... While the original focus of the CCRPM was on predicting risk perception, as indicated above, other outcome variables have since been explored (i.e., behavioural willingness; Xie et al., 2019). In those models, risk perception was then included as a predictor as well. ...
... Affect refers to general positive or negative feelings, whereas emotions refer to distinct emotions, which are intense and short-lived, more complex, and less subtle (Smith & Leiserowitz, 2012). Our focus is motivated by the growing body of evidence on the important role of affect and emotions in shaping climate change risk perceptions and productive climate change engagement (Gustafson et al., 2020;Leiserowitz, 2006;Salama & Aboukoura, 2018;Schneider, Zaval, & Markowitz, 2021;Van der Linden, 2015;Xie, Brewer, Hayes, McDonald, & Newell, 2019). For example, van Eck et al. (2020a) showed that affect is the most influential predictor of variances in blog audience members' climate change risk perceptions, being more important than other predictors such as knowledge and political ideology. ...
... Moreover, since affect is a strong predictor of how individuals shape their climate change risk perceptions (Van der Linden, 2015;Van Eck et al., 2020a;Xie et al., 2019), tweets and blog posts with affective language will likely elicit stronger affective responses among their readers than those without. Van der Linden (2014) discusses how "an 'affective' response is usually defined as a fast, associative, and automatic reaction that guides information processing and judgment" (p. ...
... This finding is incongruent with other work on how distinct platform cultures shape different climate change communications (Pearce et al., 2019). Prior work suggests that individuals may engage with climate change discussions and shape their climate change risk perceptions more strongly on Twitter than on blogs (Van Eck et al., 2019), possibly because of the increased presence of various kinds of affective language on social media platforms (Gustafson et al., 2020;Leiserowitz, 2006;Salama & Aboukoura, 2018;International Journal of Communication 19(2025) Platform Cultures and Emotional Communication 39 Schneider et al., 2021;Van der Linden, 2015;Xie et al., 2019). Another possibility is that the prevalence of negative language on blogs (over Twitter) reflects the generally hostile and polarized climate change debate (Dahal et al., 2019;Effrosynidis et al., 2022;Tyagi et al., 2021), especially considering the high number of climate-skeptical blog posts included in our dataset. ...
In recent years, climate change discussions have shifted from the blogosphere to platform cultures like Twitter (now X). However, it remains unclear how this shift has influenced the emotional tone of these conversations. In this preregistered study, we explored differences in affective and emotional language usage between English-language climate change blogs and tweets. Using sentiment classifiers, we analyzed two datasets: 2,633 blog posts from 18 blogs and 167,000 climate-related tweets. Contrary to expectations, blogs scored higher than tweets across all categories of affective language (positive and negative emotions, including fear, anger, sadness, disgust, joy, and surprise). Joy and surprise were the most frequently identified emotions in both datasets. On Twitter, positive-emotional language predicted higher engagement (likes and shares) more effectively than negative language or specific emotions. However, we observed differences depending on the sentiment classifiers used (Empath, Syuzhet, and VADER). These findings contribute to discussions of how different platform cultures influence climate change communication and affect the overall quality of the debate.
... According to the Climate Change Risk Perception Model (CCRPM) proposed by van der Linden [58], value orientations are among the most important variables influencing risk perception regarding CC. This model employs the same value classification as Stern (2002) [59]; [58]; [60]; [61]; [54]. Research [54] and positive [61] effects on CC risk perception. ...
... This model employs the same value classification as Stern (2002) [59]; [58]; [60]; [61]; [54]. Research [54] and positive [61] effects on CC risk perception. As mentioned in above, these value orientations shape beliefs, which, in turn, influence risk perception, psychological distance, and adaptive behaviors-a relationship supported by extensive literature [35,63]. ...
... Specifically, biospheric and altruistic values exerted a positive effect (confirming hypotheses 1 and 2), while egoistic values had a negative impact (confirming hypothesis 3). These findings are consistent with previous studies [54,[58][59][60][61]. In explaining these results, it can be said that existing theories in the field of risk perception (encompassing cognitive and affect) have faced criticism for depoliticizing risk and overlooking the crucial role of social and cultural structures in shaping risk perception [82]. ...
... However, mediation analyses revealed that experience had little or no direct effect on intention to perform actions that mitigate climate change (Demski, et al., 2017;Spence et al., 2011). Moreover, previous studies found that experience of flooding or other extreme weather events has a significant effect on perceptions of risk Demski et al., 2017;Ngo et al., 2020;Spence et al., 2011;van der Linden, 2014avan der Linden, , 2015Xie et al., 2019). ...
... Several studies indicated that climate change risk perception positively influences intention or willingness to engage in mitigation and adaptation activities (Leiserowitz, 2006;Ngo et al., 2020;O'Connor et al., 1999;Spence et al., 2011;van der Linden, 2014b;Xie et al., 2019). Moreover, risk perception has been shown to be significantly related to energy conservation behavior (Lacroix & Gifford, 2018;Kwon et al., 2019). ...
... Experience with climate change-related events leads to higher risk perception. The link between climate change experience and risk perception is consistent with previous studies Demski et al., 2017;Ngo et al., 2020;Spence et al., 2011;van der Linden, 2014avan der Linden, , 2015Xie et al., 2019). Personal experience with climate change-related events reduces one's psychological distance from climate change (McDonald et al., 2015). ...
... Various theories, such as the Extended Parallel Process Model and Climate Change Risk Perception Model, postulate that affect informs behavioral decision-making [22,23]. Accordingly, empirical evidence shows that negative affect is the largest predictor of individuals' climate risk perception [23] and willingness to engage in climate mitigation behaviors [24], as well as one of the largest predictors of individuals' climate adaptation behaviors [25,26]. Put differently, affect is a cornerstone of climate action. ...
... Since disturbed affect is implicated in 40-75% of mental disorders [18][19][20][21], a more detailed understanding of ASAP can help support climate adaptation by developing strategies to safeguard mental health. Second, since affect is a key driver of individuals' climate mitigation and adaptation behaviors [24][25][26], if air pollution blunts an individual's affect, the blunting might carry over into a (lack of) climate action [27]. Lack of mitigation behaviors could substantially impede the international goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, as enshrined in the Paris Agreement [66]. ...
Individuals’ sensitivity to climate hazards is a central component of their vulnerability to climate change. In this paper, we introduce and outline the utility of a new intraindividual variability construct, affective sensitivity to air pollution (ASAP)–defined as the extent to which an individual’s affective states fluctuate in accordance with daily changes in air quality. As such, ASAP pushes beyond examination of differences in individuals’ exposures to air pollution to examination of differences in individuals’ sensitivities to air pollution. Building on known associations between air pollution exposure and adverse mental health outcomes, we empirically illustrate how application of Bayesian multilevel models to intensive repeated measures data obtained in an experience sampling study (N = 150) over one year can be used to examine whether and how individuals’ daily affective states fluctuate with the daily concentrations of outdoor air pollution in their county. Results indicate construct viability, as we found substantial interindividual differences in ASAP for both affect arousal and affect valence. This suggests that repeated measures of individuals’ day-to-day affect provides a new way of measuring their sensitivity to climate change. In addition to contributing to discourse around climate vulnerability, the intraindividual variability construct and methodology proposed here can help better integrate affect and mental health in climate adaptation policies, plans, and programs.
... Climate changes, such as temperature shifts and extreme weather, are increasingly observed by both scientists and local communities. Research on perceived climatic/environmental risk (Birkholz et al., 2014, Lujala et al., 2015Xiea et al., 2019) reveals that risk perception is an important parameter influencing decision-making. Risk perception significantly influences decision-making, amplified by scientific data shared online (Wu et al., 2023(Wu et al., , 2024. ...
Climate Change proceeds faster than anticipated with disastrous events affecting large territories. Magnification of disastrous-prone areas redefines risk conceptions and perceptions, influencing planning decisions and community priorities at multiple levels. However, the spatial implications of Climate Change are still poorly understood, this underlying the need for new frameworks. A case study of Thessaly Region in Greece, recently affected by the devastating flood caused by Storm Daniel in 2023, is elaborated as a basis for formulating such a framework. Research method conducts a detailed examination of key periods that have significantly influenced spatial development and driven shifts in dominant socio-spatial paradigms. These is based on four key factors: (a) landscape transformations, (b) changes in population distribution across rural and urban areas, (c) demographic transitions, and (d) economic and political shifts. In Thessaly, a shift in paradigms is revealed, as the initial “retreat to nature” principle maintaining an organic and complex land use pattern within the floodplains was outplaced by a massive artificialization and homogenization of the landscape, to support the industrialization of agriculture; this accompanied by an unsustainable exploitation of natural resources. During the recent period this dominant paradigm is being challenged, with Storm Daniel coming after a decades’ long economic recession, and alongside rural population decline dramatically exaggerating uncertainty regarding Thessaly’s territorial future. Τhe failure of Thessaly’s anti-flooding infrastructure and conventional grey infrastructure planning emerges as the critical factor contributing to the region’s exposure and vulnerability. In the consequent section the new flood-control Masterplan delivered by a private company is critically assessed; where analysis shows that links to spatial planning perspectives are particularly missing.
... Prior studies found a correlation between the strength of environmental concerns and greater support for renewable energy sources in Germany [30], intentions to reduce energy use in the UK [29] and to adopt energy-saving behaviors [31], and more general support for green policies [32,33]. More recently, researchers found that a greater risk perception towards climate change is correlated with the perceived ineffectiveness of individual action [34] and that expectations about the efficacy of energy reduction initiatives moderate the association between worry about climate change and energy-saving behaviors [35]. Moreover, Jakučionytė-Skodienė and Liobikienė [36] observe that, while feelings of personal responsibility were positively correlated with personal actions to reduce climate impact, climate change concern only promotes low-cost ones. ...
Climate change is one of the most pressing issues on the public policy agenda. Employing data from rounds 8 and 10 of the European Social Survey, this paper examines the relationship between the perception of Europeans towards climate change and the limitation of energy consumption. An ordered logit model shows that socio-demographic characteristics are strongly related to attitudes towards climate change: female, more educated, and left-leaning respondents display, on average, higher levels of worry and personal responsibility for addressing climate change. However, the relationship between these predictors with greater support for energy reduction measures is non-trivial. Through our unique dataset, the study investigates the evolution of attitudes towards private energy consumption reduction over time. Although beliefs are becoming more positive across Europe, personal responsibility to address climate change seems to play an especially pivotal role in Eastern countries. Policy implications are discussed in light of these results.
... Most participants expressed a willingness to learn more about both climate change and its health implications, suggesting potential for educational interventions. This openness to learning aligns with Xie et al. [52], who found that increased knowledge can influence both risk perception and behavioral change. Moreover, Salma et al. [34] suggested that expanding opportunities for adults to learn about climate change and engage in climate initiatives would bring significant benefits to both this population and the climate change movement. ...
Extreme heat, a leading cause of weather-related morbidity and mortality, particularly affects vulnerable populations such as older people, increasing their risk of stroke. There is a gap between scientific knowledge and policy implementation, particularly regarding climatic risk factors for stroke. This study aims to identify knowledge barriers and enablers and formulate recommendations. We held eight focus groups of participants aged ≥ 60 years (N = 56), a workshop with 36 public health policy experts and stakeholders, and six in-depth interviews with experts. Three main themes emerged: (1) risk perception and responsibility attribution, revealing varying awareness of climate change risk for stroke and complex personal, cultural, and institutional responsibilities; (2) barriers to climate change adaptation, including knowledge gaps, environmental maladaptation, and insufficient governmental resources; and (3) enabling factors and adaptive solutions, highlighting individual coping strategies, education, and collaborative policy interventions. Focus group participants demonstrated diverse adaptive behaviors, while policymakers emphasized interagency collaboration and targeted knowledge dissemination. Older individuals demonstrated limited knowledge about climate change and its health risks. National policies lack effective communication. There is a critical need for knowledge dissemination, coping tools, and solutions for healthcare providers and at-risk groups, particularly regarding the health implications of climate change.
... Willingness. The Personal Willingness subscale of the Behavioral Willingness index (Xie et al., 2019) was used to measure participants' willingness to personally engage in behaviors that contribute to climate change mitigation (e.g., ''Pay more for fuel and use my vehicle less often''). All responses are measured on a 4-point scale ranging from 1 ''not at all willing'' to 4 ''very willing,'' where higher scores reflect a stronger willingness to engage in climate change mitigation behaviors. ...
This paper uses socioeconomic, political, psychological, information seeking and trust-related factors to characterize different beliefs on global challenges—vaccine beliefs (COVID-19) and climate change—to inform effective science and public health communications and interventions. We surveyed a sample of 1,790 Australians (73.1% female) aged 18 to over 75 years on their vaccine beliefs, perceptions of climate change risks, demographics, and various political and attitudinal beliefs. Six groups representing different levels of belief across the two challenges were identified. Canonical linear discriminant analysis identified two clear functions—Progressive Liberalism and Conspiratorial Anti-politics—emerged as explanatory for positive and negative loaded worldviews towards vaccine mandates, respectively. Willingness to act on climate change loaded strongly and positively onto both functions. The implications of this politicized worldview are discussed, including the distinction of these composites.
... The results indicated that students who exhibited low awareness of the risks of climate change also exhibited low pro-environmental behaviour with regard to the consumption of environmentally friendly products. Previous research has demonstrated that low awareness of the risks of climate change could impede an individual's capacity to assist in the reduction of the negative impacts of climate change (Xie et al., 2019;Wang et al., 2021). Consequently, it was challenging to implement actions that could mitigate the adverse effects of climate change, such as low pro-environmental behaviour towards the consumption of environmentally friendly products. ...
Climate change literacy and pro-environmental behaviour have been proven to be one of the solutions to address climate change in the student’s perspective from several countries. Therefore, it is crucial to gain a comprehensive understanding of the relation between these two variables for the impact on climate change in Indonesia. The objective of this research was to analyse the relationship between climate change literacy and pro-environmental behaviour among senior high school students in Indonesia. A correlation study was conducted using a survey method. The samples were students from the X, XI, and XII grades of senior high school, collected using proportionate stratified random sampling. A total of 386 students from three schools participated in this survey. The test comprised a climate change awareness instrument to examine climate change literacy. Furthermore, a questionnaire was used to measure pro-environmental behaviour among high school students. Additionally, interviews were conducted to obtain comprehensive data. The results demonstrated a positive and highly significant relationship between climate change literacy and pro-environmental behaviour among senior high school students. This research highlighted that awareness of climate change causes and government policies related to climate change influenced pro-environmental behaviour.
... The way individuals or groups perceive and evaluate the dangers associated with climate change, including their opinions, attitudes, and behaviors around these hazards, is known as climate risk perception [37]. Many researchers have developed different models, tested them by using different variables, and tried to understand public risk perception concerning climate change [37][38][39][40][41], and within the scope of this study, CCRP will be evaluated in relation to EIDO, AMDO, and FN. ...
The aim of this study is to examine the effects of individuals’ climate change risk perceptions on artificial meat and edible insect diffusion optimism and the mediating role of food neophobia in these effects. The findings of this study are important because of the contribution that the preference behavior of innovative foods for mitigating the impact of climate change and managing climate change-induced food shortages can make within the framework of the Protection Motivation Theory. Türkiye was selected as the research region. The data obtained using quantitative analysis methods were transformed into findings through statistical analysis (such as structural equation modeling). This study revealed that individuals with high climate change risk perception evaluate alternative protein sources such as artificial meat and edible insects more positively. Food neophobia does not play an important role in these trends. This study emphasizes the importance of sustainable food consumption in combating climate change. To promote the spread of alternative protein sources, such as artificial meat and edible insects, individuals’ risk perceptions need to be increased, and food neophobia needs to be reduced. In this context, it is recommended to increase public awareness of climate change and develop educational programs. This study has the potential to contribute to the development of strategies to promote sustainable food consumption behaviors.
... In particular, affective valence influences the intention to adopt ecological practices (Koenig-Lewis et al., 2014). Experimental studies have indicated that affectively positive messages tend to promote ecological behaviors, while the impacts of negative affect are more complex, with evidence suggesting both favorable and adverse outcomes (Xie et al., 2019;Russell et al., 2017). ...
The present paper emphasizes the central role of meaning in human action, highlighting how the analysis of its emergence and reproduction can offer insights into complex phenomena, including the challenges posed by contemporary society, with a particular focus on the climate crisis. A micro-genetic model of the constitution of experience is initially proposed, followed by a presentation of the concept of "value of life" of signs. Next, the article introduces the Semiotic-Cultural Psychology Theory (SCPT), highlighting its processual interpretation of culture understood as a continuous sensemaking process. Two empirical studies are presented that apply the theoretical framework of SCPT, demonstrating the impact of meaning systems on pro-environmental behaviors: the first explores the relationship between wildfire risk perception and preventive behaviors and the moderating role played by symbolic universes, while the second analyzes the role of affect in the link between attitudes and pro-environmental behaviors. The results underscore the crucial importance of the symbolic universes and lines of semiotic force in shaping individuals' perceptions, thoughts, and actions, suggesting relevant theoretical and practical implications for promoting a culture of sustainability.
... Environmental risk perception refers to the subjective evaluation and interpretation of potential environmental hazards and their impacts. It has been recognised as a key determinant of pro-environmental intentions (Xie et al., 2019) and actions (Bradley et al., 2020), as well as adaptive and preventive behaviour (De Dominicis et al., 2015;Tan & Xu, 2019). Risk perception also increases support for government-implemented environmental policies (O'Connor et al., 1999). ...
Environmental psychology heavily relies on psychometric scales to approach relevant psychological constructs. Traditionally, these scales have most often been developed using classical test theory, despite the availability of more advanced methods like Item Response Theory (IRT)—a specific form of "modern test theory". The increasing capabilities of statistical software and the growing availability of open-source tools such as R packages have made IRT analyses more accessible and easier to implement. Adopting such approach would significantly benefit the field by enhancing the rigour and precision of our measurement instruments. In this short note, we present a practical example of applying IRT to developing a short scale of environmental risk perception (assessing perceived likelihood, seriousness, and concern about threats related to biodiversity loss and climate change). We use data from a large-scale survey of the views of the population of Finland about biodiversity and other environment-related issues (N = 2,005). In a dual-step process of confirmatory factor analysis followed by IRT, we demonstrate evidence of validity and reliability of the 6-item environmental risk perception scale in the context of a national study. We illustrate how IRT offers a more informative and comprehensive evaluation of specific items (assessing their location, discrimination, and information) and, therefore, of the overall scale (information and conditional reliability) compared to classical test theory. We advocate for the broader adoption of IRT within environmental psychology to improve the quality of the instruments we rely upon as a field.
... The study utilized the four items developed by Xie et al. (2019) to assess the participants' beliefs that climate mitigation actions are necessary, effective, and individual and climate efforts would make a difference. A sample item is "Whatever behaviour we, as a nation, engage in to reduce carbon emissions will make no real-difference in reducing the negative effects of global warming." ...
Emerging evidence suggests that environmental concern and healthy levels of climate anxiety can spark climate action among the youth. However, very little is known about how efficacy beliefs related to climate mitigation come into play with environmental concern and climate anxiety in encouraging climate action. Hence, this study investigated a moderated mediation model predicting engagement in climate action among the youth in the Philippines, one of the top climate hazard countries globally. Specifically, the study tested the positive relationship between environmental concern and climate action via climate anxiety and the moderating effect of mitigation response efficacy beliefs. This cross-sectional study involved 467 Filipino adolescents (Mean age = 19.19; SD age = 1.02) recruited through an online questionnaire comprising measures of climate anxiety, environmental concern, self-reported climate action, and mitigation response efficacy. Findings revealed a positive association between environmental concern and engagement in climate action. The study also found a significant mediation effect of climate anxiety on the relationship between environmental concern and engagement in climate action among individuals with high levels of mitigation response efficacy but not among those with moderate and low levels of efficacy beliefs. Climate anxiety is a psychological mechanism linking the positive influence of environmental concern on climate action among Filipino youth. The mediating effect of climate anxiety is more salient when adolescents believe that individual and collective efforts are effective in addressing the climate crisis.
... One crucial factor that determines the level of concern one might experience and establishes why young people experience more climate-related distress than adults, is the psychological distance that people interpose between the threat. As pointed out by Xie et al. (2019), sometimes it seems that climate change happens only to other people, in another place, and in another future. Thus, young people may experience the worst mental health impacts because they feel "closer" to the consequences of climate change, since they are predicted to occur during their lifetimes. ...
Adolescents are increasingly affected by eco-anxiety, a psychological response to the threat of climate change. This study explores the relationship between eco-anxiety, pro-environmental behaviors, and the mediation role of self-efficacy in an Italian adolescent sample. Our findings revealed a positive correlation between eco-anxiety and clinical measures of anxiety, depression, stress, and general distress. Adolescents who reported more eco-anxiety also tend to experience increased levels of these psychological distress symptoms. Moreover, eco-anxiety was positively correlated with pro-environmental behavior, indicating that higher eco-anxiety is associated with a greater engagement in sustainable actions. In our sample, self-efficacy did not play a mediating role in this relationship. This suggests that in our sample other factors could have played this role. In conclusion, this research points out the complex relationship between eco-anxiety, pro-environmental behaviors, self-efficacy, and mental health. It underscores the need for holistic approaches that not only address eco-anxiety and promote pro-environmental behaviors but also support adolescents' mental well-being. By understanding these dynamics, we can empower the youth to become agents of positive change while providing the necessary mental health resources to navigate the ecological challenges of our time.
... Several factors could mitigate or even dampen the willingness to act, for instance the attitudes towards the required actions. People may feel that the pro-environmental behaviors are ineffective, that the social norms about them are skeptical or openly hostile, that their personal self-efficacy is low, and they cannot control the situation (Xie et al., 2019). In addition, people may accept the risk as the price to pay for an immediate advantage provided by non-eco-friendly actions, or they may think that they do not have personal or material resources to act (Wachinger et al., 2013). ...
Environmental Education (EE) programs are of crucial importance. EE are aimed at global citizenship to generate new knowledge and new, more participatory and conscious ways of acting in the environment. This study, therefore, wants to verify the effectiveness of a training intervention that is based on education on climate change issues and on the active participation of subjects in the dimension of the small psychological group. At the intervention 309 students took part, equally distributed by gender (52.1% males), 64.4% enrolled in primary school, 35.6% enrolled in lower secondary school. A quantitative protocol was administered to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. The study shows an increase in pro-environmental behaviors and their stability even after 15–30 days. The intervention seems to be effective in triggering pro-environmental behaviors and maintaining them in the following weeks. The results of this study highlight the need to develop environmental education pro-grams in schools to increase levels of knowledge and awareness on the issue of climate change.
... They emphasize the importance of attitude or risk perception in driving pro-environmental behaviors, especially in facing distant challenges of climate change [67]. Our findings might suggest that perceived barriers to action, such as high financial costs, could disrupt the assumed link between risk perception and adaptation behavior, aligning with previous research [68]. For instance, Akompab et al [69] found that risk perception did not significantly predict adaptive heatwave behaviors (e.g. ...
The perception of climate change as an abstract and distant concept hinders climate action. Previous studies suggest that individuals may conflate climate change and local air pollution due to misconceptions, as these environmental issues share similar emission sources and mitigation strategies. However, it remains uncertain whether leveraging the public’s high perception of air pollution can lead to increased climate change awareness and supportive behaviors. In this study, we surveyed 1236 Chinese online customers to explore the influence of air pollution perception on climate change perception and willingness to pay (WTP) for supporting climate actions. Structural equation modeling results revealed that higher air pollution perception, which is connected to an individual’s living environment and health status, is significantly associated with higher climate change perception. Despite this link, higher climate change perception does not necessarily translate to higher WTP for climate actions. However, air pollution perception can indirectly increase WTP for climate actions by fostering avoidance behavior intentions. For practical implications, our findings suggest that an emphasis on the co-benefits of climate change mitigation efforts for improving air quality may help lead to greater policy support and understanding. Additionally, promoting individual behavioral changes requires connecting these issues to personal experiences and highlighting tangible benefits such as improved health and well-being.
... Indeed, knowledge of value can encourage users to be willing to pay for existing or improved services (Tesfaye et al., 2019). However, climate risk perception is undoubtedly crucial in decision making for climate change adaptation strategies, and an equally important construct to predict the needs for adaptation and behavioural willingness to pay for climate adaptation strategies (Xie et al 2019). From a gender perspective, women and men may be differentially vulnerable to climate change (Beuchelt & Badstue, 2013). ...
This study examines climate risk perception, weather information needs, and willingness to pay for climate advisory services among Senegalese livestock farmers. In a sample of 600 farmers, results reveal a substantial perception of risks related to high temperatures, drought, and decreasing rainfall, with women demonstrating a higher overall risk perception than men. Age-wise, younger farmers exhibit heightened risk perception. The utility function analysis indicates preferences for integrated advisory services and market information. Livestock farmers express a willingness to pay Fcfa 1 410 per month for climate advisory services with market information and substantially higher amounts (Fcfa 880-980) for integration of indigenous knowledge, scientific forecasts, and pastoral resource advisories. These findings offer insights crucial for tailoring effective climate adaptation strategies in Senegal's livestock sector.
... An extension of the CCRPM shows that knowledge is also associated with mitigation behavior such as increase willingness to use public transportation, use less electricity or express higher support for societal actions like increasing the price of fuel (Xie et al., 2019). Similarly, Lindell and Perry (2012) PADM shows how knowledge of environmental hazards is important in shaping the adopted behavior. ...
This study explores risk attitudes towards environmental hazards by adapting the Comprehensive Conceptual Risk Perception Model (CCRPM) and applying it in the context of health-related implications of these hazards. We argue that personal experience and a deeper understanding of environmental hazards increase risk perceptions, while a strong social context reduces health concerns. Utilizing data from a national survey ( N = 1207), our findings reveal higher health-related risk perceptions among individuals with pre-existing health conditions. Additionally, those with greater knowledge of environmental threats exhibit heightened concern about health complications. Conversely, individuals in communities with robust social ties report lower risk attitudes. An in-depth analysis further indicates that residents of high-risk communities, characterized by higher levels of air pollution, have increased risk perceptions compared to those in less polluted areas. These findings reinforce the dimensions described in the CCRPM and highlight the significance of structural conditions in shaping individuals' risk perceptions.
... First, it expands the idea of adaptation more broadly to include climate change mitigation [14], for example, using public transit and making green purchases, which we refer to more generally as 'climate action' [15]. Within this framework, the DMCA builds from the rich body of empirical and theoretical literature on climate mitigation that examines the role of factors such as experience, efficacy, risk perceptions, emotions, attributions, and responsibility on climate mitigation [7,10,11,[16][17][18][19]. Second, it embraces the idea that key psychological processes must include affective responses such as emotions, which are key drivers of decision-making. ...
... Negative sentiments about climate-related hazards may facilitate the loosening of ties between a person and their place of residence, possibly by affecting place dependence or place identity [85]. While feelings of fear and worry may be discomforting and unwelcome, in this case, these negative emotions may motivate behavior rather than encourage avoidance or denial (though whether this behavior is truly adaptive requires further study) [74,95,96]. Additional research is necessary to determine whether the association we found between fear and worry and prospective migration may be moderated by other potential mechanisms such as efficacy or control beliefs. ...
The bond between people and the place they live has significant implications for their migration decisions. However, few studies have examined how this relationship endures in the face of experience with climate-related hazards and associated emotions, and whether detachment from place may be related to future migration. Here we address this gap using cross-sectional survey data from a representative probability-based sample of 1479 residents of Texas and Florida—areas frequently affected by coastal hazards—to investigate the interplay between place attachment, place detachment, negative hazard experiences, hazard-related fear and worry, and prospective migration. We found that place attachment and detachment were inversely associated with one another, and that hazard-related fear and worry was associated with higher place detachment. Results indicated that place detachment and hazard-related fear and worry were positively associated with prospective migration, while place attachment was negatively associated with prospective migration. The absence of place attachment and presence of detachment may lower psychological barriers to relocation in the face of climate change. Negative hazard experiences were not associated with place attachment, place detachment, or prospective migration. However, our post-hoc analyses found an indirect association between negative hazard experiences and prospective migration, mediated by hazard-related fear and worry. This suggests that psychological correlates of climate hazards, possibly arising from experiencing them, may inform people’s sense of place and future migration decisions. Our findings highlight the salience of relationships with place in migration decisions and stress the importance of explicitly examining negative sentiments towards place in migration studies. These insights can both improve climate migration models and help tailor policies and programs aimed at supporting detached, fearful, and worried individuals in anticipation of future climate-related hazards.
... Negative affect is one of the most important predictors of climate change risk perceptions and willingness to engage in mitigation behaviours (Xie et al., 2019). However, strong affective responses to climate change, like 'climate anxiety' (or 'eco-anxiety') also have potential for harmful impacts on wellbeing. ...
Abstract
Background
Research on the nature and prevalence of phenomena like climate anxiety (or eco-anxiety) is increasing rapidly but there is little understanding of the conditions under which climate change worry becomes more or less likely to significantly impact mental wellbeing. Here, we considered two plausible moderators of the relationship between climate change worry and mental wellbeing: neuroticism and efficacy beliefs.
Methods
Analysis was conducted with survey data gathered in six European countries in autumn 2019. Participants were recruited from universities in the participating countries using opportunity sampling.
Results
We found that climate change worry is negatively related to mental wellbeing at any level of perceived efficacy. In contrast, climate change worry is only significantly related to mental wellbeing at low and average levels of neuroticism. High neuroticism appears to have a masking, rather than amplifying, role in the relationship between climate change worry and mental wellbeing.
Limitations
The cross-sectional design of the study precludes verification of causal relationships among variables. The brief measure of neuroticism employed also did not allow for nuanced analysis of how different facets of neuroticism contribute to the observed interaction with climate change worry. Findings cannot be indiscriminately generalised to less privileged groups facing the worst impacts of the climate crisis.
Conclusion
Our findings lend to a view that harmful impacts of climate change worry on mental wellbeing cannot simply be ascribed to dispositional traits like neuroticism. We advocate for interventions that tackle negative climate-related emotions as unique psychological stressors.
This study examines risk perceptions of COVID-19 across seven African countries, utilizing data from an online survey of 840 individuals. The research reveals a complex landscape of risk perceptions in Africa, encompassing COVID-19 illness risk alongside other health, economic, governance, and social risks. Notably, COVID-19 risk perceptions in Africa appear relatively low compared to other regions, particularly in countries like Ethiopia and Zimbabwe, where economic distress, corruption, and injustice are perceived as greater threats. Regression analysis confirms multiple risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, including health and governance risks, while economic risks generally show no significant association with COVID-19 illness risk. These findings partially explain why individuals in African countries, especially those facing economic challenges, tend to prioritize other risks over COVID-19. The study contributes to the literature on risk perception during global health crises and offers insights into the unique context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa.
This study explores public policy preferences to address infrastructure vulnerabilities and enhance resilience in the face of natural hazards. Our framework emphasizes the role of government responsibility to design and enact policy alternatives. We also account for common factors like risk perceptions, knowledge of the threats, the conditions of local infrastructure and political partisanship. We test our model with survey data from Texas focusing on infrastructure resilience and natural hazards. The findings demonstrate that views of the government's role are by far the most crucial factor in explaining and predicting policy support. Risk perceptions and factual knowledge also play an important role in explaining the variations in citizens' attitudes. Lastly, we find that political preferences have a more nuanced effect and are likely to be important under certain conditions, but not for any proposed government policy. The results of this study extend existing knowledge of the factors that determine policy preferences to promote hazard resilient critical infrastructure. Considering the essential role of infrastructure systems for citizens' daily lives, and especially during hazard events, researchers and policymakers can build on these insights in the design and implementation of solutions to enhance infrastructure resilience versus the growing risks from natural disasters.
İklim değişikliği, son yıllarda bilimsel kanıtların artması ve çevresel etkilerin belirginleşmesiyle küresel ölçekte önemli bir sorun haline gelmiştir. Bu bağlamda, bireylerin iklim değişikliğini nasıl algıladığını anlamak, bu küresel soruna yönelik tutum ve davranışları şekillendirmede kritik bir rol oynamaktadır. Risk algısının öncüllerini belirlemek, bireylerin çevresel tehditleri nasıl değerlendirdiğini ve iklim değişikliğiyle ilgili politika desteği ve uyum stratejilerini geliştirme süreçlerini daha iyi anlamaya katkı sağlamaktadır. Literatürdeki çalışmalar, iklim değişikliği risk algısını etkileyen çeşitli faktörleri incelemiş ve bu faktörlerin açıklama gücünü değerlendirmiştir. Çalışmalar, yalnızca bireylerin bilişsel düzeydeki bilgilerini ve doğrudan deneyimlerini değil, aynı zamanda kişisel etkinlik algısını, bilim insanlarına ve medyaya duyulan güveni, politik ideolojileri, kültürel dünya görüşlerini, dini faktörleri ve mekânsal faktörleri de risk algısının belirleyicileri arasında ele almaktadır. Bu doğrultuda, çalışmada bilişsel, deneyimsel, sosyo-kültürel ve sosyo-demografik bileşenler olmak üzere dört temel faktörün risk algısının oluşumundaki rolü incelenmiştir. Literatürdeki çalışmaların büyük çoğunluğu, iklim değişikliği risk algısının belirleyicilerini farklı kültürel bağlamlarda ve genellikle hane halkı üzerinde incelemiştir. Ancak iklim değişikliğinin olumsuz etkilerinden en fazla etkilenecek gruplar arasında yüksek dağ toplulukları, yerel halklar, çiftçiler, besiciler ve dağcılar gibi özel örneklem grupları bulunmaktadır. Türkiye'nin coğrafi yapısı ve kırılgan ekosistemleri göz önünde bulundurulduğunda, bu grupların iklim değişikliği risk algılarının incelenmesi, yerel düzeyde etkili uyum ve azaltım politikalarının geliştirilmesi açısından kritik bir önem taşımaktadır. Bu çalışmanın bulguları, Türkiye’de iklim değişikliği risk algısının belirleyicilerinin daha kapsamlı bir şekilde incelenmesi gerektiğini vurgulamakta ve politika yapıcıların toplumun risk algısını şekillendiren temel faktörleri göz önünde bulundurarak uyum ve azaltım politikalarını geliştirmesi gerektiğini göstermektedir.
With households accounting for 75% of global carbon emission, we need to find ways to motivate people to increase their climate change mitigating behaviors. Affective reactions have been linked to pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs), but it is unclear if positive (warm glow or hope) or negative (worry or hopelessness) is more impactful in motivating action. In this pre-registered study we used a unique longitudinal dataset from a Swedish sample to reveal that positive affect predicts more engagement in PEBs, and negative affect predicts less engagement in PEBs. A mediation model also suggests that anticipated (i.e., expected feelings of) positive affect is related to past pro-environmental engagement and could partly predict future PEBs. Hence, affective reactions may be one way to increase intrinsic motivation for a more sustainable lifestyle.
This study aims to analyze Yogyakarta’s Government efforts through regulation and programs in supporting climate change mitigation and sustainable development number 13 (Climate Action). To analyze data, this study uses qualitative methods and data collecting with documentation techniques. The result of this study is Climate change mitigation in Yogyakarta is not optimum because (1) collaboration between agencies within the Yogyakarta Regional Government is not integrated, (2) the lack of awareness of communities related to climate action and (3) the low law supremacy in regulating environmental sustainability to reduce climate change threats. Although the hydrometeorological threat occurs in the Yogyakarta area, the climate change mitigation strategy in the local development planning document does not focus on preventing climate change through environmental maintenance as the city’s development planning and increase the capacity of all sectors to realize climate action and achieve SDG goals, however, only focused on socialization communities as an object. The Yogyakarta Government needs to review its development planning document to build a strategic plan that focuses on environmental maintenance as one of the climate change mitigation stages.
Increasingly, more scientists sound the alarm about climate change, sparking debates over the effects of new science communication strategies on scientific credibility. We investigate what happens when climate scientists deviate from science communication that is principally factual and neutral. In an experiment (US sample, N = 882), we investigated if affective expressions and personal stories impact scientists’ credibility and public climate engagement. The results suggest that when climate scientists incorporate affect or personal anecdotes into their messaging, it does not significantly diminish their credibility. Nevertheless, message consistency is essential; only by aligning the narrative with expressed affect can scientific credibility and climate engagement be increased.
A complete policy response to climate change, habitat destruction, plastic pollution, and other Anthropocene challenges requires action by governments, industries, nongovernmental organizations, and individuals. In this article, we focus on ways to persuade individuals to take action, whether that entails making decisions to reduce their own carbon emissions, lobbying for new laws, or providing leadership in their sphere of influence. We argue that interventions will be most effective if they not only make it easier for people to act (as behavioral science suggests) but also highlight moral reasons for taking action and assure people that their actions make a difference. Such steps should increase humanity's chances of surviving and thriving in the Anthropocene.
Cilj istraživanja bio je ispitati kako ljudi percipiraju negativne posljedice klimatskih promjena u tri vremenska razdoblja (prije 25 godina, danas i za 25 godina) te ispitati postoji li povezanost između nekih socio-demografskih obilježja, religioznosti, političke orijentacije i percepcije rizika od klimatskih promjena. Podatci su prikupljeni putem interneta od ožujka do lipnja 2023. godine, na kvotnom uzorku od 1.075 sudionika (51,9% žena), u dobi između 18 i 79 godina. Sudionici su izvijestili o svojim socio-demografskim obilježjima, o svojoj percepciji rizika od klimatskih promjena, kao i o svojoj religioznosti i političkoj orijentaciji. Deskriptivna analiza pokazala je da su sudionici u prosjeku procijenili kako je rizik od negativnih utjecaja od klimatskih promjena u sadašnjosti iznad vrijednosti koja je sredina skale procjene rizika. Također, sudionici su u prosjeku procijenili i da je rizik od negativnih utjecaja od klimatskih promjena u budućnosti iznad vrijednosti koja je sredina skale procjene rizika, ali je ta prosječna vrijednost bila viša od prosječne vrijednosti procjene sudionika o negativnim utjecajima klimatskih promjena u sadašnjosti. Rezultati multiple regresijske analize pokazali su da su spol i politička orijentacija značajni prediktori percepcije rizika od klimatskih promjena, odnosno da su sudionici ženskog spola i lijeve političke orijentacije skloniji percipiranju kako postoje visoki rizici od klimatskih promjena. Ovo istraživanje produbljuje spoznaje o percepciji rizika od klimatskih promjena na uzorku hrvatskih sudionika te daje smjernice za buduća istraživanja percepcije rizika od klimatskih promjena.
There is an increasing research interest in emotional responses to climate change and their role in climate action and psycho-social impacts of climate change. Recently, addressing a gap in methods, Marczak et al. (2022) developed the Inventory of Climate Emotions (ICE), a measure of eight distinct emotional responses to climate change. Yet, the ICE was developed in a single cultural context only (Poland), and its concurrent validity was tested using a limited set of variables. Here, we contribute to the scientific debate about emotional responses to climate change with original quality-controlled data from the general populations in Norway (N = 491) and Ireland (N = 485). We first confirm the 8-factor structure of the Norwegian and English versions of the ICE via confirmatory factor analyses (CFA). Next, we demonstrate a high degree of cross-cultural measurement invariance of the ICE across Norway, Ireland and Poland. In the final step, we corroborate and extend the nomological span of climate emotions, showing that they are differentially linked to climate change perceptions, mitigation policy support, various socio-demographics, loneliness and alienation, as well as to environmental activism and the willingness to renounce one’s own immediate self-interests in favour of the natural environment. Overall, this research presents evidence for the structural, cross-cultural and concurrent validity of the ICE. Moreover, it provides tools and an informed basis for cross-cultural research on emotional responses to climate change.
Perubahan iklim saat ini menjadi salah satu momok dunia, sebab merupakan masalah yang kompleks dan mendesak untuk ditangani. Banyak dampak negatif yang ditimbulkan dari perubahan iklim tersebut. Perilaku manusia menjadi kontributor terbanyak dalam peningkatan perubahan iklim. Oleh karena itu, manusia perlu sadar untuk menjaga alam. Salah satunya bersedia untuk berkontribusi dalam konservasi energi. Namun, untuk menumbuhkan perilaku tersebut perlu adanya faktor-faktor pendukung, seperti climate change perception dan nature relatedness. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menguji peran climate change perception dan nature relatedness terhadap terbentuknya kesediaan untuk melakukan konservasi energi. Pendekatan yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah pendekatan kuantitatif korelasional dengan teknik analisis regresi. Temuan ini menunjukkan adanya korelasi simultan antara climate change perception dan nature relatedness dengan pembentukan kesediaan untuk melakukan konservasi energi. Hasil dari temuan ini berkontribusi dalam memberikan tambahan pengetahuan dan gambaran mengenai bagaimana climate change perception dan nature relatedness mampu membentuk kesediaan individu untuk melakukan konservasi energi. Abstract. Climate change has become one of the world's most daunting challenges, as it presents a complex, urgent issue requiring immediate attention. Numerous negative impacts arise from climate change, primarily accelerated by human behavior. Therefore, individuals must be aware of the need to preserve nature and be willing to participate in energy conservation efforts. However, fostering such behavior necessitates supportive factors, such as climate change perception and nature-relatedness. This study examines the roles of climate change perception and nature-relatedness in shaping the willingness to engage in energy conservation. The research adopts a quantitative correlational approach, utilizing regression analysis techniques. The findings indicate a simultaneous correlation between climate change perception and nature-relatedness in fostering the willingness to engage in energy conservation. The results of this study enhance knowledge and provide insights into how climate change perception and nature-relatedness shape individuals' willingness to engage in energy conservation.
This chapter explores the intersection of social neuroscience and pro-environmental behavior to understand how prosocial neuroscientific approaches can inform and enhance climate change mitigation efforts. It emphasizes the critical role of understanding cognitive, affective, and motivational antecedents of behavior to address climate change effectively. By examining the neural underpinnings of prosocial behavior, we highlight how insights from social neuroscience may be used to foster pro-environmental decisions and actions. We first discuss methodologies like functional magnetic resonance imaging and transcranial magnetic stimulation, underscoring their potential to reveal determinants of pro-environmental behavior. Then, we discuss the importance of empathy, social cognition, and the neural mechanisms underlying prosociality, suggesting that these can provide a foundation for investigating and encouraging pro-environmental behavior. In addition, the chapter aims to pave the way for a new subdiscipline, environmental social neuroscience, focusing on the cognitive, affective, and social drivers of environmental decision-making and behavior. Integrating neuroscientific and environmental psychology approaches requires innovative research to understand and mitigate the impacts of climate change, ultimately contributing to a sustainable future.
Climate tipping points are a topic of growing interest in climate research and a frequent communication tool in the media to warn of dangerous climate change. Despite indications that several climate tipping points may already be triggered within 1.5 to 2 °C warming above pre-industrial levels, there is limited research about the public understanding of climate tipping points, the effects this knowledge (or lack thereof) may have on perceptions of risk related to climate change, and the corresponding effects on behaviour and public policy support. The emerging scholarship on learning, communication, and risk perceptions related to climate tipping points provides confounding evidence regarding the psychological and behavioural effects of information about climate tipping points. It remains unknown whether and under what conditions this knowledge increases concern, risk perceptions, and action intentions. In this study, we assess the current state of knowledge about climate tipping points among Norwegians using an online survey. We study the comparative effects of communicating about climate tipping points and climate change more generally on risk perceptions among participants with a survey-embedded experiment. Norway is an interesting case with its fossil-based economy and high level of education. We find that familiarity with climate tipping points is low among Norwegians: only 13 % have good knowledge in the sense that they know an example or characteristic of climate tipping points. Information about tipping points has somewhat stronger, yet overall very small, effects on participants' risk perceptions compared to general information about climate change, moderately increasing concern. We discuss our findings and their implications and suggest directions for further research.
Presents an integrative theoretical framework to explain and to predict psychological changes achieved by different modes of treatment. This theory states that psychological procedures, whatever their form, alter the level and strength of self-efficacy. It is hypothesized that expectations of personal efficacy determine whether coping behavior will be initiated, how much effort will be expended, and how long it will be sustained in the face of obstacles and aversive experiences. Persistence in activities that are subjectively threatening but in fact relatively safe produces, through experiences of mastery, further enhancement of self-efficacy and corresponding reductions in defensive behavior. In the proposed model, expectations of personal efficacy are derived from 4 principal sources of information: performance accomplishments, vicarious experience, verbal persuasion, and physiological states. Factors influencing the cognitive processing of efficacy information arise from enactive, vicarious, exhortative, and emotive sources. The differential power of diverse therapeutic procedures is analyzed in terms of the postulated cognitive mechanism of operation. Findings are reported from microanalyses of enactive, vicarious, and emotive modes of treatment that support the hypothesized relationship between perceived self-efficacy and behavioral changes. (21/2 p ref)
We proposed and tested a conceptual model of how cultural cognition worldviews, climate change risk perception, and psychological barriers are related to reported energy conservation behavior frequency. Egalitarian and communitarian worldviews were correlated with heightened climate change risk perception, and egalitarian worldviews were correlated with weaker perceived barriers to reported energy conservation behavior. Heightened climate change risk perception was, in turn, associated with fewer perceived barriers to engagement in energy conservation behavior and more reported energy conservation behaviors. The relation between cultural worldviews and perceived barriers was partly mediated by climate change risk perception. Individuals with distinct worldviews perceived psychological barriers differently, and some barrier components were more strongly related to energy conservation behavior than others. Overall, climate change risk perception was the strongest predictor of perceived barriers and of energy conservation behavior frequency. Future efforts should focus on reducing the psychological barriers to energy conservation behavior identified in this study.
This report extends and updates an ongoing program of research analyzing Americans' interpretations of and responses to climate change. This research segments the American public into six audiences that range along a spectrum of concern and issue engagement from the Alarmed, who are convinced of the reality and danger of climate change, and who are highly supportive of personal and political actions to mitigate the threat, to the Dismissive, who are equally convinced that climate change is not occurring and that no response should be made.
Mitigating global climate change requires not only government action but also cooperation from consumers. Population-based, cross-sectional surveys were conducted among 1202 respondents in Portland OR and Houston TX between June and September 2007 regarding awareness, concern, and behavior change related to climate change. The data were subjected to both quantitative and qualitative analyses. Awareness about climate change is virtually universal (98% in Portland and 92% in Houston) with the vast majority reporting some level of concern (90% in Portland and 82% in Houston). A multivariate analysis revealed significant predictors of behavior change: individuals with heightened concern about climate change (p<0.001); respondents with higher level of education (p= 0.03); younger compared with older individuals (p<0.001); and Portlanders more likely to change behavior compared with Houstonians (p<0.001). Of those who changed behavior, 43% reported having reduced their energy usage at home, 39% had reduced gasoline consumption, and 26% engaged in other behaviors, largely recycling. Qualitative data indicate a number of cognitive, behavioral, and structural obstacles to voluntary mitigation. Although consumers are interested in global climate change-mitigation strategies and willing to act accordingly, considerable impediments remain. Government policy must eliminate economic, structural, and social barriers to change and advance accessible and economical alternatives. Individual-level mitigation can be a policy option under favorable contextual conditions, as these results indicate, but must be accompanied by mitigation efforts from industry, commerce, and government.
Deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions are required to mitigate climate change. However, there is low willingness amongst the public to prioritise climate policies for reducing emissions. Here we show that the extent to which Australians are prepared to reduce their country's CO2 emissions is greater when the costs to future national income are framed as a ``foregone-gain"---incomes rise in the future but not by as much as in the absence of emission cuts---rather than as a ``loss"---incomes decrease relative to the baseline expected future levels (Studies 1 & 2). The provision of a normative message identifying Australia as one of the world's largest CO2 emitters did not increase the amount by which individuals were prepared to reduce emissions (Study 1), whereas a normative message revealing the emission policy preferences of other Australians did (Study 2). The results suggest that framing the costs of reducing emissions as a smaller increase in future income and communicating normative information about others' emission policy preferences are effective methods for leveraging public support for emission cuts.
Examining the conceptual relationship between personal experience, affect, and risk perception is crucial in improving our understanding of how emotional and cognitive process mechanisms shape public perceptions of climate change. This study is the first to investigate the interrelated nature of these variables by contrasting three prominent social-psychological theories. In the first model, affect is viewed as a fast and associative information processing heuristic that guides perceptions of risk. In the second model, affect is seen as flowing from cognitive appraisals (i.e., affect is thought of as a post-cognitive process). Lastly, a third, dual-process model is advanced that integrates aspects from both theoretical perspectives. Four structural equation models were tested on a national sample (N = 808) of British respondents. Results initially provide support for the “cognitive” model, where personal experience with extreme weather is best conceptualized as a predictor of climate change risk perception and, in turn, risk perception a predictor of affect. Yet, closer examination strongly indicates that at the same time, risk perception and affect reciprocally influence each other in a stable feedback system. It is therefore concluded that both theoretical claims are valid and that a dual-process perspective provides a superior fit to the data. Implications for theory and risk communication are discussed. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Among American Conservatives, but not Liberals, trust in science has been declining since the 1970's. Climate science has become particularly polarized, with Conservatives being more likely than Liberals to reject the notion that greenhouse gas emissions are warming the globe. Conversely, opposition to genetically-modified (GM) foods and vaccinations is often ascribed to the political Left although reliable data are lacking. There are also growing indications that rejection of science is suffused by conspiracist ideation, that is the general tendency to endorse conspiracy theories including the specific beliefs that inconvenient scientific findings constitute a "hoax."
We conducted a propensity weighted internet-panel survey of the U.S. population and show that conservatism and free-market worldview strongly predict rejection of climate science, in contrast to their weaker and opposing effects on acceptance of vaccinations. The two worldview variables do not predict opposition to GM. Conspiracist ideation, by contrast, predicts rejection of all three scientific propositions, albeit to greatly varying extents. Greater endorsement of a diverse set of conspiracy theories predicts opposition to GM foods, vaccinations, and climate science.
Free-market worldviews are an important predictor of the rejection of scientific findings that have potential regulatory implications, such as climate science, but not necessarily of other scientific issues. Conspiracist ideation, by contrast, is associated with the rejection of all scientific propositions tested. We highlight the manifold cognitive reasons why conspiracist ideation would stand in opposition to the scientific method. The involvement of conspiracist ideation in the rejection of science has implications for science communicators.
This overview describes the anthropogenic drivers of global climate change, reviews the behavioral and psychological responses to its impacts (including barriers to behavior change), considers behavior-focused intervention strategies, and suggests future directions for research. In doing so, it demonstrates why and how behavioral science is crucial for confronting the complex challenges posed by global climate change. The human dimensions of climate change are discussed, followed by descriptions of key theoretical models for explaining and predicting climate-relevant behavior, issues and distinctions in studying human behavior in response to global climate change, an account of psychological (as opposed to structural) adaptation and its behavioral sequelae, the many psychological barriers to behavior change in this context, and behavior-focused intervention strategies. The overview concludes with suggestions for researchers interested in advancing knowledge about behavior change and psychological responses to climate change. When knowledge about human behavior, cognitions, and psychological adaptation is integrated with that produced by researchers in related social and natural science disciplines, the result will facilitate solutions to this massive shared challenge. WIREs Clim Change 2011, 2:801–827. doi: 10.1002/wcc.143
For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
Most people think climate change and sustainability are important problems, but too few global citizens engaged in high-greenhouse-gas-emitting behavior are engaged in enough mitigating behavior to stem the increasing flow of greenhouse gases and other environmental problems. Why is that? Structural barriers such as a climate-averse infrastructure are part of the answer, but psychological barriers also impede behavioral choices that would facilitate mitigation, adaptation, and environmental sustainability. Although many individuals are engaged in some ameliorative action, most could do more, but they are hindered by seven categories of psychological barriers, or “dragons of inaction”: limited cognition about the problem, ideological worldviews that tend to preclude pro-environmental attitudes and behavior, comparisons with key other people, sunk costs and behavioral momentum, discredence toward experts and authorities, perceived risks of change, and positive but inadequate behavior change. Structural barriers must be removed wherever possible, but this is unlikely to be sufficient. Psychologists must work with other scientists, technical experts, and policymakers to help citizens overcome these psychological barriers.
The effects of support for free-market ideology and environmental apathy were investigated to identify some bases for not believing in global climate change. A survey of community residents' (N= 185) beliefs about global climate change also assessed ecocentrism, anthropocentrism, perceived knowledge about climate change, and self-efficacy. The beliefs that global climate change is not occurring, is mainly not human caused, will also have positive consequences and that weaker intentions to undertake ameliorative actions were significantly associated with greater support for free-market ideology, greater environmental apathy, less ecocentrism, and less self-efficacy. About 40% of the variance in each belief and 56% of the variance in the behavioral intention was explained by these factors. The results suggest that the relation between support for free-market ideology and the beliefs about global climate change is mediated by environmental apathy.
Heat waves are considered a health risk and they are likely to increase in frequency, intensity and duration as a consequence of climate change. The effects of heat waves on human health could be reduced if individuals recognise the risks and adopt healthy behaviours during a heat wave. The purpose of this study was to determine the predictors of risk perception using a heat wave scenario and identify the constructs of the health belief model that could predict adaptive behaviours during a heat wave. A cross-sectional study was conducted during the summer of 2012 among a sample of persons aged between 30 to 69 years in Adelaide. Participants' perceptions were assessed using the health belief model as a conceptual frame. Their knowledge about heat waves and adaptive behaviours during heat waves was also assessed. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the predictors of risk perception to a heat wave scenario and adaptive behaviours during a heat wave. Of the 267 participants, about half (50.9%) had a high risk perception to heat waves while 82.8% had good adaptive behaviours during a heat wave. Multivariate models found that age was a significant predictor of risk perception. In addition, participants who were married (OR = 0.21; 95% CI, 0.07-0.62), who earned a gross annual household income of ≥60,000 (OR = 2.66; 95% CI, 1.07-6.56) were more likely to have good adaptive behaviours during a heat wave. The health belief model could be useful to guide the design and implementation of interventions to promote adaptive behaviours during heat waves.
Virtually all current theories of choice under risk or uncertainty are cognitive and consequentialist. They assume that people assess the desirability and likelihood of possible outcomes of choice alternatives and integrate this information through some type of expectation-based calculus to arrive at a decision. The authors propose an alternative theoretical perspective, the risk-as-feelings hypothesis, that highlights the role of affect experienced at the moment of decision making. Drawing on research from clinical, physiological, and other subfields of psychology, they show that emotional reactions to risky situations often diverge from cognitive assessments of those risks. When such divergence occurs, emotional reactions often drive behavior. The risk-as-feelings hypothesis is shown to explain a wide range of phenomena that have resisted interpretation in cognitive-consequentialist terms.
The study aims to reveal Australian households’ perceptions of climate change and their preferences for mitigation action.
A web-based survey was conducted in November 2008 in which over 600 households from the state of New South Wales were asked
for their willingness to bear extra household expenditure to support the ‘Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme’, an emissions
trading scheme proposed by the Australian government. The results of the study can be summarized in four key findings. First,
respondents’ willingness to pay for climate change mitigation is significantly influenced by their beliefs of future temperature
rise. Support for the policy increased at a decreasing rate as the perceived temperature change rose. Second, perceptions
of policy failure have a significant negative impact on respondents’ support for the proposed mitigation measure. The higher
the perceived likelihood that the measure would not deliver any outcome, the lower was the likelihood that respondents would
support the policy. Third, respondent preferences for the proposed policy are influenced by the possibility of reaching a
global agreement on emissions reduction. Sample respondents stated significantly higher values for the policy when the biggest
polluting countries implement a similar scheme. Finally, respondents’ willingness to take action against climate change, both
at the national and household level, is found to be influenced by their level of mass-media exposure. Particularly, those
respondents who watched ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ were significantly more likely to act for climate change mitigation than others.
Although there is a growing body of research examining public perceptions of global climate change, little work has focused on the role of place and proximity in shaping these perceptions. This study extends previous conceptual models explaining risk perception associated with global climate change by adding a spatial dimension. Specifically, Geographic Information Systems and spatial analytical techniques are used to map and measure survey respondents' physical risk associated with expected climate change. Using existing spatial data, multiple measures of climate change vulnerability are analyzed along with demographic, attitudinal, and social contextual variables derived from a representative national survey to predict variation in risk perception. Bivariate correlation and multivariate regression analyses are used to identify and explain the most important indicators shaping individual risk perception. Analysis of the data suggests that the relationship between actual and perceived risk is driven by specific types of physical conditions and experiences.
A survey investigated risk judgements related to climate change. In order to understand which the important determinants of such risk judgements are, demographic factors and knowledge were assessed in a questionnaire answered by 621 Swedish residents. Demographic factors included gender, parenthood, type and level of education, age, and level of urbanization of the place of residence, while knowledge covered knowledge of state, causes, and consequences of climate change. Regression analyses showed that both cognitive risk judgements (of probability) of serious negative consequences and affective risk judgements (worry) were predicted by knowledge of causes and knowledge of consequences of climate change, in particular health consequences. Women were more worried than men but did not differ from men with respect to the cognitive risk judgements.
Affect is considered by most contemporary theories to be postcognitive,
that is, to occur only after considerable cognitive operations have
been accomplished. Yet a number of experimental results on preferences,
attitudes, impression formation, and decision making, as well as
some clinical phenomena, suggest that affective judgments may be
fairly independent of, and precede in time, the sorts of perceptual
and cognitive operations commonly assumed to be the basis of these
affective judgments. Affective reactions to stimuli are often the
very first reactions of the organism, and for lower organisms they
are the dominant reactions. Affective reactions can occur without
extensive perceptual and cognitive encoding, are made with greater
confidence than cognitive judgments, and can be made sooner. Experimental
evidence is presented demonstrating that reliable affective discriminations
(likedislike ratings) can be made in the total absence of recognition
memory (oldnew judgments). Various differences between judgments
based on affect and those based on perceptual and cognitive processes
are examined. It is concluded that affect and cognition are under
the control of separate and partially independent systems that can
influence each other in a variety of ways, and that both constitute
independent sources of effects in information processing. (139 ref)
(PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved)
Complex dynamic behaviour involves reciprocal influences between emotion and cognition. On the one hand, emotion is a "double-edged sword" that may affect various aspects of our cognition and behaviour, by enhancing or hindering them and exerting both transient and long-term influences. On the other hand, emotion processing is also susceptible to cognitive influences, typically exerted in the form of emotion regulation. Noteworthy, both of these reciprocal influences are subjective to individual differences that may affect the way we perceive, experience, and eventually remember emotional experiences, or respond to emotionally challenging situations. Understanding these relationships is critical, as unbalanced emotion-cognition interactions may lead to devastating effects, such as those observed in mood and anxiety disorders. The present review analyses the reciprocal relationships between emotion and cognition, based on evidence derived from brain imaging investigations focusing on three main topics: (1) the impact of emotion on cognition, (2) the impact of cognition on emotion, and (3) the role of individual differences in emotion-cognition interactions. This evidence will be discussed in the context of identifying aspects that are fundamental to understanding the mechanisms underlying emotion-cognition interactions in healthy functioning, and to understanding changes associated with affective disorders.
One of the reasons that people may not take action to mitigate climate change is that they lack first-hand experience of its potential consequences. From this perspective, individuals who have direct experience of phenomena that may be linked to climate change would be more likely to be concerned by the issue and thus more inclined to undertake sustainable behaviours. So far, the evidence available to test this hypothesis is limited, and in part contradictory. Here we use national survey data collected from 1,822 individuals across the UK in 2010, to examine the links between direct flooding experience, perceptions of climate change and preparedness to reduce energy use. We show that those who report experience of flooding express more concern over climate change, see it as less uncertain and feel more confident that their actions will have an effect on climate change. Importantly, these perceptual differences also translate into a greater willingness to save energy to mitigate climate change. Highlighting links between local weather events and climate change is therefore likely to be a useful strategy for increasing concern and action.
The effects of health threat communications have generated considerable empirical and theoretical attention. Inconsistent findings in the "fear appeal" literature suggest that the effects of these types of meassages are not completely understood. Previous theoretical approaches have tended to focus upon the emotional (fear) reaction produced by exposure to threatening health information. However, the weight to the experimental evidence indicates that certain cognitions about the threat are more directly related to acceptance of the recommendations than emotional arousal. An integration of the existing theoretical approaches is offered, which views acceptance of health threat recommendations to be mediated by perceptions of threat control. Two fundamental beliefs are seen as comprising perceived threat control: response efficacy, which is the perceived ability of the recommended coping action(s) to reduce or control the threat; and personal efficacy, which is the person's expectations of being able to perform the recommended threat-coping action(s) successfully. These two threat control factors are consistent with existing theories of health behavior (Health Belief Model) and fear appeals (Rogers, 1975) and may help to clarify Leventhal's (1970) parallel response model. Empirical support for these factors is presented and indicates that beyond some adequate level of utility, personal efficacy is a more important of protective health behavior than response efficacy. The implication for health practitioners is that communications can be very effective in producing acceptance of protective health behavior if a real, but controllable threat is depicted. Therefore, future research should focus upon the ways by which response efficacy efficacy and personal efficacy can be enhanced in a health threat communication.
Because risk perceptions can affect protective behavior and protective behavior can affect risk perceptions, the relations between these 2 constructs are complex and incorrect tests often lead to invalid conclusions.
To discuss and carry out appropriate tests of 3 easily confused hypotheses: (a). the behavior motivation hypothesis (perceptions of personal risk cause people to take protective action), (b). the risk reappraisal hypothesis (when people take actions thought to be effective, they lower their risk perceptions), and (c). the accuracy hypothesis (risk perceptions accurately reflect risk behavior).
Longitudinal study with an initial interview just after the Lyme disease vaccine was made publicly available and a follow-up interview 18 months later. Random sample of adult homeowners (N = 745) in 3 northeastern U.S. counties with high Lyme disease incidence. Lyme disease vaccination behavior and risk perception were assessed.
All 3 hypotheses were supported. Participants with higher initial risk perceptions were much more likely than those with lower risk perceptions to get vaccinated against Lyme disease (OR = 5.81, 95% CI 2.63-12.82, p <.001). Being vaccinated led to a reduction in risk perceptions, chi2(1, N = 745) = 30.90, p <.001, and people vaccinated correctly believed that their risk of future infection was lower than that of people not vaccinated (OR =.44, 95% CI.21-.91, p <.05).
The behavior motivation hypothesis was supported in this longitudinal study, but the opposite conclusion (i.e., that higher risk led to less protective behavior) would have been drawn from an incorrect test based only on cross-sectional data. Health researchers should take care in formulating and testing risk-perception-behavior hypotheses.
Recent growth in the number of studies examining belief in climate change is a positive development, but presents an ironic challenge in that it can be difficult for academics, practitioners and policy makers to keep pace. As a response to this challenge, we report on a meta-analysis of the correlates of belief in climate change. Twenty-seven variables were examined by synthesizing 25 polls and 171 academic studies across 56 nations. Two broad conclusions emerged. First, many intuitively appealing variables (such as education, sex, subjective knowledge, and experience of extreme weather events) were overshadowed in predictive power by values, ideologies, worldviews and political orientation. Second, climate change beliefs have only a small to moderate effect on the extent to which people are willing to act in climate-friendly ways. Implications for converting sceptics to the climate change cause-and for converting believers' intentions into action-are discussed.
Studies examining personal experiences of climate change-related events highlight the potential to encourage climate action by framing it as happening now, in your neighborhood, and affecting people like you - that is, psychologically close. We compare this literature to studies that examine psychological distance. The review reveals a disconnect: while studies of personal experience suggest merits of reducing psychological distance, other studies present a more nuanced picture in which psychological proximity does not always lead to more concern about or action on climate change. Despite its emphasis, psychological distance has not been widely studied in experimental work in the climate change context, and there is a need for more systematic examination of its effects across a range of mitigation and adaptation actions. Further, our review identifies potential pitfalls associated with decreasing psychological distance, such as fear and avoidance. Finally, we provide preliminary recommendations for optimal ways to bring climate change "home.".
Climate change is a threat to human societies and natural ecosystems, yet public opinion research finds that public awareness and concern vary greatly. Here, using an unprecedented survey of 119 countries, we determine the relative influence of socio-demographic characteristics, geography, perceived well-being, and beliefs on public climate change awareness and risk perceptions at national scales. Worldwide, educational attainment is the single strongest predictor of climate change awareness. Understanding the anthropogenic cause of climate change is the strongest predictor of climate change risk perceptions, particularly in Latin America and Europe, whereas perception of local temperature change is the strongest predictor in many African and Asian countries. However, other key factors associated with public awareness and risk perceptions highlight the need to develop tailored climate communication strategies for individual nations. The results suggest that improving basic education, climate literacy, and public understanding of the local dimensions of climate change are vital to public engagement and support for climate action.
Cross‐national comparisons of proposed policies of individual parties are an underdeveloped part of the literature on environmental politics in general and climate politics in particular. Although conservative parties are portrayed as skeptical toward adopting climate measures or even supposed to ignore climate change, this study of nine conservative electoral manifestoes nevertheless finds that most of them support climate measures, even in the form of state interventions in the market economy. Market measures are not as dominating as could be expected, but a clear finding is that available fossil reserves seem to have an influence on conservative climate politics. The U.S. Republican Party is an anomaly in denying anthropogenic climate change. Conservative parties as such are not in opposition to climate policies, but the pro‐business position is evident in that conservative parties do not challenge coal or petroleum in countries with large reserves of these resources.
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Rugeley , Cynthia R. , and John David Gerlach. 2012 . “.” Politics & Policy 40 (): 444 ‐ 470 . http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2012.00352.x/abstract
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. 2014 . “A Conservative on Climate Change.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSGiv60PBd8
. 2014 . “Creating Public Doubt about Scientific Facts.” With Naomi Oreskes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaGiIhH7lAI
. 2011 . “Why We Disagree about Climate Change.” With Mike Hulme. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqJVHzxWQDU
The research reported here examines the relationship between risk perceptions and willingness to address climate change. The data are a national sample of 1225 mail surveys that include measures of risk perceptions and knowledge tied to climate change, support for voluntary and government actions to address the problem, general environmental beliefs, and demographic variables. Risk perceptions matter in predicting behavioral intentions. Risk perceptions are not a surrogate for general environmental beliefs, but have their own power to account for behavioral intentions. There are four secondary conclusions. First, behavioral intentions regarding climate change are complex and intriguing. People are neither “nonbelievers” who will take no initiatives themselves and oppose all government efforts, nor are they “believers” who promise both to make personal efforts and to vote for every government proposal that promises to address climate change. Second, there are separate demographic sources for voluntary actions compared with voting intentions. Third, recognizing the causes of global warming is a powerful predictor of behavioral intentions independent from believing that climate change will happen and have bad consequences. Finally, the success of the risk perception variables to account for behavioral intentions should encourage greater attention to risk perceptions as independent variables. Risk perceptions and knowledge, however, share the stage with general environmental beliefs and demographic characteristics. Although related, risk perceptions, knowledge, and general environmental beliefs are somewhat independent predictors of behavioral intentions.
Attitude polarization between conservative and progressive politicians over global warming has an important influence upon public acceptance of action on climate change. Political party identification theorists claim that political elites provide cues that guide party supporters on complex political issues. In Australia, as in the USA, the UK and elsewhere, public attitudes on climate change are deeply divided on the basis of party identification and political ideology. Multivariate analyses of Australian candidate and voter survey data show that coalition candidates and their supporters are far less likely than their Labor or Greens counterparts to believe global warming will pose a serious threat to their way of life. Attitudes toward global warming are also more polarized according to party allegiance among candidates than among voters. Controlling for social background and political ideology, Coalition identifiers are less concerned about the dangers of climate change, far less supportive of the carbon tax and less likely to support renewable energy options than Greens or Labor identifiers are, but much more supportive of nuclear power as an alternative energy source.
Australia has had a variable and mostly arid climate as long as humans have been on the continent. Historically observed trends toward increased warming, with rainfall increases in many tropical areas and rainfall decreases in many temperate areas, are projected to continue. Impacts will be geographically variable but mostly negative for biodiversity, agriculture, and infrastructure. Extreme events such as bushfires and floods will increase in frequency and intensity, concentrated in summer. With an economy heavily dependent on coal for domestic electricity generation and as an export commodity, Australians are high per capita contributors to anthropogenic climate change. A quarter‐century of steps to mitigation led in 2012 to a carbon price that has the long‐term potential to shift the economy toward more renewable energy sources. However as in other parts of the world this change has come too late, and is proceeding too slowly, to avoid significant climate change. A heritage of indigenous adaptation, strong volunteer cultures, and contemporary cultural diversity provide Australia with considerable adaptive capacity for gradual changes, but the nation is underprepared for sudden or step changes. We identify four pressing research and policy needs focused on such changes: (1) systematic attention to processes and impacts of negative transformative change, or worst‐case scenarios, (2) improve forecasts of year‐to‐year rainfall and climate variability, focusing on processes and climate drivers that may change in response to higher greenhouse gases, (3) identification and engagement of diverse cross‐cultural resources, and (4) articulation of alternative governance mechanisms that can interact dynamically with strong government. WIREs Clim Change 2014, 5:175–197. doi: 10.1002/wcc.255
This article is categorized under: Trans‐Disciplinary Perspectives > National Reviews
The current study investigates determinants of young Australians’ pro-environmental intentions and actions. Two samples of young people took part in the research: 12 - 17-year-olds (N = 1529) currently in secondary schooling and 18 - 24-year-olds (N = 2192) in post-secondary schooling or workforce. All participants completed an online ‘Youth and the Environment Survey’ that assessed perceived responsibility of community and government to protect the environment, locus of control, environmental concern, self-reported environmental knowledge, pro-environmental intentions, pro-environmental behaviour and environmentally harmful behaviour. Attributing greater responsibility to the community was related to more positive environmental intentions and actions, whereas, attributing greater responsibility to the government for environmental protection was related to more negative environmental intentions and behaviour. In addition, young people with higher environmental concern and knowledge, and a more internal locus of control in relation to the environment, reported stronger pro-environmental intentions and behaviour, and less environmentally harmful behaviour.
The fear appeal literature is diverse and inconsistent. Existing fear appeal theories explain the positive linear results occurring in many studies, but are unable to explain the boomerang or curvilinear results occurring in other studies. The present work advances a theory integrating previous theoretical perspectives (i.e., Janis, 1967; Leventhal, 1970; Rogers, 1975, 1983) that is based on Leventhal's (1970) danger control/fear control framework. The proposed fear appeal theory, called the Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM), expands on previous approaches in three ways: (a) by explaining why fear appeals fail; (b) by re‐incorporating fear as a central variable; and (c) by specifying the relationship between threat and efficacy in propositional forms. Specific propositions are given to guide future research.
Cet article présente trois raisons pour lesquelles l’influence de la connaissance sur le comportement écologique est systématiquement sous-estimé. Tout d’abord, ce n’est pas la simple masse de connaissances disponibles que détermine le comportement: différentes formes de connaissances doivent converger pour favoriser le comportement écologique. Ensuite, l’impact de la connaissance n’est pas détecté parce que certaines procédures statistiques ne contrôlent pas les erreurs de mesure ni ne révèlent avec précision les influences interférentes. Enfin, les facteurs psychologiques tels que la connaissance ont apparemment une influence limitée sur le comportement écologique en présence de fortes pressions relevant de la situation. Mais quand une évaluation du comportement écologique fait systématiquement appel aux contraintes des situations (application d’un test), on peut s’apercevoir que la connaissance a un impact significatif sur le comportement écologique.
The present paper argues for three reasons why knowledge's influence on ecological behavior is underestimated systematically. First, it is not the mere amount of knowledge available that determines behavior. Different forms of knowledge must work together in a convergent manner if they are to foster ecological behavior. Second, knowledge's effect remains undetected also, because some statistical procedures neither correct for measurement error attenuation nor uncover mediated influences accurately. Third, psychological factors such as knowledge apparently have a limited influence on ecological behavior when strong situational constraints are effective. When an ecological behavior measure makes—as a performance test—systematic use of situational influences though, knowledge can be revealed as affecting ecological behavior significantly.
Our everyday experiences leave little doubt that our emotions can influence the decisions we make, much as the outcome of our decisions can influence the emotions we experience. Yet, the complex interplay of emotion, cognition, and decision making has received limited systematic attention in empirical research. The diverse contributions to this Special Issue address different aspects of this interplay. To place these contributions into context, this paper provides a short and selective discussion of the multiple links between emotion, cognition, and decision making. I first address the influence of moods and emotions experienced at the time of decision making. Subsequently, I turn to the affective consequences of decisions and the role of anticipated and remembered affect in decision making.
If the long-term goal of limiting warming to less than 2°C is to be achieved, rapid and sustained reductions of greenhouse gas emissions are required. These reductions will demand political leadership and widespread public support for action on global warming and climate change. Public knowledge, level of concern, and perceived personal efficacy, in positively affecting these issues are key variables in understanding public support for mitigation action. Previous research has documented some contradictory associations between knowledge, personal efficacy, and concern about global warming and climate change, but these cross-sectional findings limit inferences about temporal stability and direction of influence. This study examines the relationships between these three variables over a one-year period and three waves with national data from New Zealand. Results showed a positive association between the variables, and the pattern of findings was stable and consistent across the three data points. More importantly, results indicate that concern mediates the influence of knowledge on personal efficacy. Knowing more about global warming and climate change increases overall concern about the risks of these issues, and this increased concern leads to greater perceived efficacy and responsibility to help solving them. Implications for risk communication are discussed.
In flood risk management, a shift can be observed toward more integrated approaches that increasingly address the role of private households in implementing flood damage mitigation measures. This has resulted in a growing number of studies into the supposed positive relationship between individual flood risk perceptions and mitigation behavior. Our literature review shows, however, that, actually, this relationship is hardly observed in empirical studies. Two arguments are provided as an explanation. First, on the basis of protection motivation theory, a theoretical framework is discussed suggesting that individuals' high-risk perceptions need to be accompanied by coping appraisal to result in a protective response. Second, it is pointed out that possible feedback from already-adopted mitigation measures on risk perceptions has hardly been considered by current studies. In addition, we also provide a review of factors that drive precautionary behavior other than risk perceptions. It is found that factors such as coping appraisal are consistently related to mitigation behavior. We conclude, therefore, that the current focus on risk perceptions as a means to explain and promote private flood mitigation behavior is not supported on either theoretical or empirical grounds.
This article provides researchers with a guide to properly construe and conduct analyses of conditional indirect effects, commonly known as moderated mediation effects. We disentangle conflicting definitions of moderated mediation and describe approaches for estimating and testing a variety of hypotheses involving conditional indirect effects. We introduce standard errors for hypothesis testing and construction of confidence intervals in large samples but advocate that researchers use bootstrapping whenever possible. We also describe methods for probing significant conditional indirect effects by employing direct extensions of the simple slopes method and Johnson-Neyman technique for probing significant interactions. Finally, we provide an SPSS macro to facilitate the implementation of the recommended asymptotic and bootstrapping methods. We illustrate the application of these methods with an example drawn from the Michigan Study of Adolescent Life Transitions, showing that the indirect effect of intrinsic student interest on mathematics performance through teacher perceptions of talent is moderated by student math self-concept.
Two recent papers on risk perception models are discussed. In these papers, quantitative analyses are presented of risk perception in relation to risk characteristics as specified in the Psychometric Model, and to cultural biases according to Cultural Theory. This comment points out that the data quality of these two studies is doubtful, with a very small convenience sample and a very low response rate. More importantly, the analyses show the same low levels of explained variance of risk perception as other researchers have found previously, but the authors still draw optimistic conclusions from their data. Such conclusions are unjustified.
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