Psychology and Climate Change Human Perceptions Impacts and Responses

✍ Scribed by Edited by Susan Clayton and Christie Manning

• Publisher: Academic Press
• Year: 2018
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 295
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Psychology and Climate Change: Human Perceptions, Impacts, and Responses organizes and summarizes recent work in the field of psychology on the issue of climate change. The book covers topics ranging from how people perceive and respond to climate change, how people understand and communicate about the issue, how it impacts individuals and communities, particularly vulnerable communities, and how individuals and communities can best prepare for, and mitigate, negative climate change impacts. Further, it examines the role of emotion, messenger-audience fit, bi-directional communication, and issue relevance in shaping engagement and receptivity in the effectiveness of climate change communication efforts.

The book lays out the clear relevance of psychological phenomena to perceptions (e.g., risk perception, motivated cognition, denial), impacts (threats to mental health, social well-being, and sense of place), and behavior (mitigation and adaptation), thus striving to engage diverse stakeholders, both within, and between, nations, to develop and implement effective mitigation and adaptation policies on the urgent and very real issue of climate change.

✦ Table of Contents

1---Introduction--Psychology-and-climate-cha_2018_Psychology-and-Climate-Cha
1 Introduction: Psychology and climate change
1.1 Direct impacts of climate change on human society
1.2 The role for psychology
1.3 Outline of the volume
1.4 Summing up
References
2---Perceptions-of-climate-change_2018_Psychology-and-Climate-Change
2 Perceptions of climate change
2.1 What are public perceptions and why do they matter?
2.2 How do people perceive climate change?
2.2.1 Knowledge, skepticism, and concern
2.2.2 Perceptions embedded in broader social discourses
2.3 How have public perceptions of climate change developed over time and across nations?
2.4 What influences public perceptions of climate change?
2.5 Conclusion
References
3---Climate-change-communication--Challenges--insig_2018_Psychology-and-Clim
3 Climate change communication: Challenges, insights, and opportunities
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Why is climate change communication so challenging?
3.2.1 Challenge 1: The problem itself
3.2.2 Challenge 2: Cultural conflict and polarization
3.2.3 Challenge 3: Psychological barriers to engagement and communication
3.3 Improving climate change communication efforts
3.3.1 Insight 1: Know what motivates the audience
3.3.2 Insight 2: Figure out what audiences already know
3.3.3 Insight 3: Confront false information, do not reinforce it
3.3.4 Insight 4: Find frames that “fit” audiences’ needs
3.3.5 Insight 5: Highlight solutions
3.3.6 Insight 6: Tell stories
3.3.7 Insight 7: Leverage the right messengers and communications channels
3.4 Moving forward: New approaches and future directions
3.4.1 A need for continued experimentation
3.4.2 A need for evaluation and new partnerships
3.4.3 Overcoming and avoiding polarization are key
3.5 Concluding thoughts
References
4---Social-construction-of-scientifically-grounded-_2018_Psychology-and-Clim
4 Social construction of scientifically grounded climate change discussions
4.1 Social construction of scientifically grounded climate change discussions
4.2 The importance of conversations
4.3 Barriers to conversations
4.3.1 Concerns about ability to discuss the topic
4.3.2 Emotional barriers
4.3.3 Conversation content
4.4 Improving conversations
4.4.1 Frame messages to engage audiences
4.4.2 Provide an even toned conversation
4.4.3 Create core science messages
4.4.4 Increase hope with doable solutions
4.5 Applying research in practice
4.5.1 Developing a core message
4.5.2 Developing metaphors
4.5.3 Reflection on the climate heart metaphor
4.5.4 Additional recommendations
4.6 Effects of training on educators and visitors to informal science learning centers
4.6.1 Social network data
4.7 Conclusion
Appendix A Details about study
References
5---A-diversity-science-approach-to-climate-c_2018_Psychology-and-Climate-Ch
5 A diversity science approach to climate change
5.1 A diversity science approach to climate change
5.2 Why diversity matters for climate change
5.2.1 A diversity science approach
5.2.2 Identity-based approaches to climate change engagement
5.3 Identity influences beyond partisan politics
5.3.1 Evidence for the roles of racial and ethnic identities
5.3.2 An attitude-participation gap in minority engagement
5.4 Motivational barriers across groups
5.4.1 Differential motives in climate change engagement
5.4.2 Stereotypic representations as barriers to engagement
5.4.3 Perceptual barriers and norm-based messaging
5.5 Implications for organizational outreach and policy
5.5.1 Diversity messaging to promote inclusion
5.5.2 Bridging science and practice: Insights from public health
5.6 Conclusion
References
6---Contributions-of-psychology-to-limiting-climate-cha_2018_Psychology-and-
6 Contributions of psychology to limiting climate change: Opportunities through consumer behavior
6.1 Introduction
6.1.1 Behaviors that influence climate change
6.1.2 Identifying target behaviors
6.2 Determinants of behavior
6.2.1 Knowledge
6.2.2 Personal dispositions and motivations
6.2.3 Behavior-specific beliefs, attitudes, and habits
6.2.4 Contextual influences
6.3 Influencing consumer energy behavior: What does psychology know?
6.3.1 Adoption of renewable energy and efficient vehicle technologies
6.3.1.1 Renewable energy technologies (R)
6.3.1.2 Energy-efficient and alternative-fuel vehicles
6.3.2 Improving energy efficiency of equipment in the home
6.3.2.1 Home weatherization (W)
6.3.2.2 Efficient appliances (E)
6.3.3 Behavioral changes with existing technology: Travel
6.3.3.1 Eco-friendly driving (D) and vehicle maintenance (M)
6.3.3.2 Travel mode choice (D)
6.3.4 Behavioral changes with existing technology: Frequent behaviors in the home (D)
6.3.4.1 Household curtailment behaviors
6.3.4.2 Thermostat settings
6.4 Conclusions and research agenda
References
7---Understanding-responses-to-climate-change--Psychologi_2018_Psychology-an
7 Understanding responses to climate change: Psychological barriers to mitigation and a new theory of behavioral choice
7.1 Why aren’t we taking (more) action?
7.2 Psychological barriers: The dragons of inaction
7.2.1 Limited cognition
7.2.2 Ideologies
7.2.3 Significant others
7.2.4 Sunk costs
7.2.5 Discredence
7.2.6 Perceived risk
7.2.7 Limited Behavior
7.3 Developing an instrument for measuring psychological barriers
7.4 The Dragons of Inaction Psychological Barriers (DIPB) instrument
7.5 Practical applications
7.6 Future research directions
7.7 Incorporating psychological barriers into a new model of behavior choice
7.8 Conclusion
References
8---Environmental-protection-through-societal-change--What_2018_Psychology-a
8 Environmental protection through societal change: What psychology knows about collective climate action—and what it needs...
8.1 The social psychology of climate change
8.2 Conceptualizing group-based behavior: The social identity model of collective action
8.2.1 The “rational” pathway: Efficacy beliefs and collective action
8.2.2 The “emotional” pathway: Anger, shame, and collective action
8.2.3 The “social identity” factor: Bridging several gaps at once
8.2.4 Collective climate action: A preliminary model
8.3 Becoming a collective climate protection activist: From normative conflict to social validation and consensualizing
8.3.1 A more flexible basis for collective self-definition: The concept of opinion-based groups
8.3.2 Effective group interaction through action consensus, action efficacy, and action voice
8.3.3 Getting practical: Forming groups with the opinion-based group interaction method
8.3.4 The encapsulation model of social identity in collective action
8.4 Collective climate action as a source of personality development and well-being
8.4.1 Positive and negative outcomes of being an activist
8.4.2 Group identity as a resource
8.4.3 Sticking with effective groups: Empowerment as a result of successful collective action
8.5 Conclusion: Developing an environmental psychology approach for explaining societal transition processes
References
9---Threats-to-mental-health-and-wellbeing-associat_2018_Psychology-and-Clim
9 Threats to mental health and wellbeing associated with climate change
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Physical health effects of climate change
9.3 Mental health impacts from acute climate-related events
9.4 Mental health impacts from chronic climate changes
9.4.1 High temperatures
9.4.2 Drought
9.4.3 Migration
9.4.4 Loss
9.4.5 Worry and loss of control
9.5 Impacts of climate change on social relationships
9.6 Vulnerable populations
9.6.1 Women
9.6.2 Children
9.6.3 Low-income and minority communities
9.6.4 Indigenous communities
9.7 Toward resilience
9.8 Conclusion
References
10---Individual-impacts-and-resilience_2018_Psychology-and-Climate-Change
10 Individual impacts and resilience
10.1 How climate change impacts mental health: Three pathways
10.2 Cultural diversity, intersectionality and climate justice
10.3 Climate change: Vulnerability and risk factors for mental health impacts
10.4 Mental health disorders associated with global climate change
10.5 How climate change threatens psychological flourishing
10.6 Barriers to psychological coping with climate change: Complexity, disinformation, and powerlessness
10.7 Steps toward coping with global climate change as an individual
10.8 Therapeutic responses to climate change impacts
10.9 A positive message: Thriving in the era of global climate change
References
11---Psychological-perspectives-on-community-resilience-an_2018_Psychology-a
11 Psychological perspectives on community resilience and climate change: Insights, examples, and directions for future res...
11.1 What is community resilience?
11.1.1 Community resilience has diverse origins and multiple definitions
11.1.2 Defining and studying resilience in the context of communities and climate change
11.2 Why are community resilience perspectives important for advancing climate change psychology?
11.2.1 Climate change is globally pressing, but locally experienced
11.2.2 Community-level research can inform and transcend multiple levels of analysis
11.2.3 Climate change necessitates a psychology of community adaptation and resilience
11.2.4 Community-focused initiatives provide psychologists with an opportunity to inform and influence policy-making
11.3 Research on community resilience
11.3.1 Applying the findings: characteristics of resilient communities
11.4 Practical recommendations to foster resilience
11.5 Future directions for research
11.5.1 Identify and investigate structural and psychological barriers as well as opportunities for community resilience
11.5.2 Expand the investigation of collective climate change psychology
11.5.3 Contextualize resilience research to address region-specific adaptation problems
11.5.4 Foster interdisciplinary collaboration across natural and social sciences
11.5.5 Explore community-university partnerships and other engagement opportunities
11.5.6 Scale up community resilience research
11.6 Conclusion
References
Copyright_2018_Psychology-and-Climate-Change
Copyright
Front-matter_2018_Psychology-and-Climate-Change
Psychology and Climate Change
Index_2018_Psychology-and-Climate-Change
Index
List-of-contributors_2018_Psychology-and-Climate-Change
List of contributors
Preface_2018_Psychology-and-Climate-Change
Preface