|
1
|
Stanley SK, Jylhä KM, Leviston Z, Walker I. Is conservative opposition to climate change threat-based? Articulating an integrated threat model of climate change attitudes. BRITISH JOURNAL OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2024; 63:879-893. [PMID: 38100223 DOI: 10.1111/bjso.12710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Throughout the literature, there are assertions that those endorsing conservative ideologies reject the science and solutions of climate change due to perceived threat. That is, they fear that accepting climate change means accepting problems with a favoured socioeconomic system and supporting action on climate change threatens to disrupt these systems. We draw together lines of research and reasoning on this topic to outline three key predictions this perspective makes about the drivers of conservative denial of climate change and opposition to climate policy. The first is that an asymmetry exists in climate-related threat perceptions, whereby greater endorsement of conservative ideology predicts lower perceived threat from climate change and greater perceived threat from climate reform. Second, climate-related threat perceptions are multifaceted, such that threats to economic and cultural well-being can be experienced, at personal or collective levels. Third, the asymmetry in threat perceptions explains conservatives' lower support for pro-climate reforms. We then specify a new integrated threat model of climate change attitudes, review the current evidence for and against each prediction in this model and outline ways to interrogate these theoretical predictions with empirical research. Doing so will advance understanding of the underpinnings of ideological disagreement on climate change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samantha K Stanley
- School of Medicine and Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | | | - Zoe Leviston
- School of Medicine and Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
- School of Arts and Humanities, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Iain Walker
- School of Medicine and Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
- Melbourne Centre for Behaviour Change, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
|
2
|
Lammers J. Collective nostalgia and political ideology. Curr Opin Psychol 2023; 52:101607. [PMID: 37336057 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2023.101607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Collective nostalgia is a form of nostalgia that is contingent upon thinking of oneself in terms of a particular social identity. Research has focused in particular on collective nostalgia for a nation's past. Here, I propose that conservatives and others on the right side of the political spectrum experience stronger collective nostalgia for their nation's past than liberals and those on the left. I first explain the roots of this prediction in conservative political philosophy, review empirical evidence in favor of that idea, and summarize findings that show the significance of this link for policy support. Finally, I review and discuss evidence that qualifies the link between conservatism and collective nostalgia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joris Lammers
- University of Cologne, Department of Psychology, Richard-Strauss-Str. 2, 50931, Köln, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
|
3
|
Do environmental messages emphasising binding morals promote conservatives’ pro-environmentalism? A pre-registered replication. SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL BULLETIN 2023. [DOI: 10.32872/spb.8557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Past studies indicated that environmental messages incorporating binding morals (i.e., loyalty/betrayal, authority/subversion, purity/degradation) were effective in reducing the negative association between political conservatism and pro-environmentalism. We conceptually replicated and extended this finding through open science practices. In a pilot study, we constructed three environmental messages incorporating each binding moral based on previous relevant studies, and confirmed their validity (96 U.S. adults, 50% women). We then investigated the independent effects of these binding moral messages on pro-environmentalism across the political spectrum (705 U.S. adults, 56.6% women). Contrasting with our expectations and previous findings, we found no evidence that these environmental messages emphasising distinct binding morals were more effective than a control environmental message in attenuating the political polarisation on conservation intentions and willingness to receive more information about environmental protection. Simply adding binding morals content in environmental messaging may not be useful in promoting conservatives’ pro-environmental engagement. We further discuss future research as well as the limitations of this research.
Collapse
|
|
4
|
Unkelbach C, Alves H, Baldwin M, Crusius J, Diel K, Galinsky AD, Gast A, Hofmann W, Imhoff R, Genschow O, Lammers J, Pauels E, Schneider I, Topolinski S, Westfal M, Mussweiler T. Relativity in Social Cognition: Basic processes and novel applications of social comparisons. EUROPEAN REVIEW OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2023. [DOI: 10.1080/10463283.2022.2161043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Hans Alves
- Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bocham, Germany
| | - Matthew Baldwin
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainsville, FL, USA
| | - Jan Crusius
- School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands
| | - Kathi Diel
- Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bocham, Germany
| | | | - Anne Gast
- Social Cognition Center Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Wilhelm Hofmann
- Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bocham, Germany
| | - Roland Imhoff
- Department of Psychology, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Oliver Genschow
- Social Cognition Center Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Joris Lammers
- Social Cognition Center Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Eileen Pauels
- Social Cognition Center Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Iris Schneider
- Social Cognition Center Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Sascha Topolinski
- Social Cognition Center Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Mareike Westfal
- Social Cognition Center Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | | |
Collapse
|
|
5
|
‘It is a bloody big and responsible job’: perspectives on climate change communication from Australia-focused practitioners. CLIMATE ACTION 2022. [PMCID: PMC9389484 DOI: 10.1007/s44168-022-00021-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Climate change is a complex social-political issue in Australia with a history of dysfunctional conflict over climate policy. This presents challenges for the practitioners communicating about climate change to different publics. To date, academic research has focused on exploring how effective communication can be achieved but rarely has this been understood from a practitioner’s perspective. I present the findings of nineteen (n = 19) semi-structured interviews with climate change communication (CCC) practitioners in Australia. The interviews explored occupational experiences as a means to understand the state of practice, challenges, and ways forward for CCC. I explore four key themes in this analysis: the practitioners, their goals, the barriers, and their perspectives on framing. Participants spoke of the complexity in doing CCC work, including many barriers, but their focus on effective communication and engagement remains strong in the face of challenging circumstances.
Collapse
|