Psychology and Global Climate Psychology and Global Climate ChangeChange

Claudia Mausner, Ph.D.Claudia Mausner, Ph.D.Earth Day 2008Earth Day 2008Pace UniversityPace University

From Winter & Koger (2004) The Psychology of Environmental Problems

How Can Psychology Help?How Can Psychology Help?

Study how people think and feel about Study how people think and feel about global warmingglobal warming

Understand what motivates or prohibits Understand what motivates or prohibits environmentally-friendly behaviorenvironmentally-friendly behavior

Analyze patterns of decision-makingAnalyze patterns of decision-making

Provide direction for effective Provide direction for effective communicationcommunication

Facilitate a shift in social normsFacilitate a shift in social norms

Ecological Literacy: Getting the “Right” Ecological Literacy: Getting the “Right” FactsFacts

COCO2 is the main contributor to global warming is the main contributor to global warming

-- greenhouse gases and ozonegreenhouse gases and ozone

Causes of global warmingCauses of global warming-- deforestationdeforestation

-- carbon emissions - power plants, carbon emissions - power plants, transportationtransportation

Consequences of global warmingConsequences of global warming-- increased severity of stormsincreased severity of storms

-- heat waves and desertificationheat waves and desertification

-- floodingflooding

Obstacles to Getting the “Facts” Obstacles to Getting the “Facts” RightRight

Scientific uncertaintyScientific uncertainty

Confusing informationConfusing information

-- contradictory & mixed messagescontradictory & mixed messages

-- complex informationcomplex information

Intangible effectsIntangible effects

Understanding Global Warming:Understanding Global Warming:Facts are not EnoughFacts are not Enough

Information may not change attitudes: Information may not change attitudes: emotions, beliefs, and values are entrenchedemotions, beliefs, and values are entrenched

Attitudes and behavior may vary based on Attitudes and behavior may vary based on terminologyterminology

Citizens and experts may have different Citizens and experts may have different interpretations of key concepts and termsinterpretations of key concepts and terms

Understanding and attitudes may vary by Understanding and attitudes may vary by demographics e.g., age, religion, educationdemographics e.g., age, religion, education

Attitudes Toward Global Attitudes Toward Global WarmingWarming

DenialDenial-- Human activity has minimal effect on the Human activity has minimal effect on the climateclimate

-- My personal behavior cannot affect the climateMy personal behavior cannot affect the climate

BlameBlame

-- Government is responsibleGovernment is responsible

-- Developing world is responsibleDeveloping world is responsible

-- Corporations are responsibleCorporations are responsible

Minimization Minimization

-- not of immediate concernnot of immediate concern

Presentation of the Presentation of the FactsFacts

Target the appropriate audienceTarget the appropriate audience

Give concrete examplesGive concrete examples

Make information personally relevantMake information personally relevant

Present the issue in local termsPresent the issue in local terms

Keep information jargon-freeKeep information jargon-free

Don’t hype the issue – be believableDon’t hype the issue – be believable

How to Foster Behavior How to Foster Behavior ChangeChange

Give specific suggestions for change:Give specific suggestions for change:-- prioritize biggest contributors to global warmingprioritize biggest contributors to global warming

-- identify a limited number of actions identify a limited number of actions

Use community-based social marketing Use community-based social marketing (McKenzie-Mohr, (McKenzie-Mohr, American PsychologistAmerican Psychologist, 2000), 2000)

- conduct preliminary research to uncover - conduct preliminary research to uncover barriersbarriers

-- develop a strategy for changedevelop a strategy for change

-- pilot test the strategypilot test the strategy

-- implement the program implement the program

-- evaluate the programevaluate the program

Key Points to RememberKey Points to Remember

Scientific facts are necessary but not Scientific facts are necessary but not sufficientsufficient

Consider demographics Consider demographics

Keep it simpleKeep it simple

Be unambiguousBe unambiguous

Provide tools for actionProvide tools for action