A new study finds climate change skeptics are more likely to behave in eco-friendly ways than those who are highly concerned about the issue.
Do our behaviors really reflect our beliefs? New research suggests that, when it comes to climate change, the answer is no. And that goes for both skeptics and believers.
Participants in a year-long study who doubted the scientific consensus on the issue “opposed policy solutions,” but at the same time, they “were most likely to report engaging in individual-level, pro-environmental behaviors,” writes a research team led by University of Michigan psychologist Michael Hall.
Conversely, those who expressed the greatest belief in, and concern about, the warming environment “were most supportive of government climate policies, but least likely to report individual-level actions.”
Sorry, I didn’t have time to recycle—I was busy watching a documentary about the crumbling Antarctic ice shelf.
WNBA Subreddit Bans Fans from Even Mentioning Sophie Cunningham After Her Defense of Women’s Sports
Man Once Given ‘Outstanding Refugee’ Award by Minnesota Charged in Massive Medicaid Fraud Scheme
El-Sayed reveals he would go ‘step further’ than Sanders on socialist plan for major US industry
Pollster Who Had Thanksgiving-Hating Socialist Up 23 Points Closes Up Shop, Admits to Bungling Wisconsin Race
Colorado black bear dies after becoming trapped inside unlocked car for days: report
The False Moderates, Part 3: Dems Want to Turn Iowa into Illinois, And They’ve Found the Perfect Candidate
Manhunt intensifies for armed woman after veteran Massachusetts police officer found dead at home
Darline Graham Nordone debate fumble spotlights questions on policy views
Trump’s approval rating plummets to new low ahead of critical midterms: ‘More work to do’
Clarence Thomas chokes up as he reveals promise he made after grandparents’ sudden deaths
Ex-counterterrorism chief advocates for Trump to ‘walk away from’ Iran war, yank troops out of Middle East
Trump says he will meet with Kim Jong Un ‘later this year’
US ally on Putin’s doorstep braces for war as Russia tensions take ominous turn
GoFundMe for Lindsay Clancy Family Skyrockets as Clancy’s Mom Reveals Her Daughter Begged to Sleep With Her at Night
New York grandmother vanishes in Las Vegas as family gets mysterious texts from her phone asking for Bitcoin
The study, published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology, followed more than 400 Americans for a full year. On seven occasions—roughly once every eight weeks—participants revealed their climate change beliefs, and their level of support for policies such as gasoline taxes and fuel economy standards.
They also noted how frequently they engaged in four environmentally friendly behaviors: recycling, using public transportation, buying “green” products, and using reusable shopping bags.
The researchers found participants broke down into three groups, which they labeled “skeptical,” “cautiously worried,” and “highly concerned.” While policy preferences of group members tracked with their beliefs, their behaviors largely did not: Skeptics reported using public transportation, buying eco-friendly products, and using reusable bags more often than those in the other two categories.
This pattern was found consistently through the year, leading the researchers to conclude that “belief in climate change does not appear to be a necessary or sufficient condition for pro-environmental behavior.”
WNBA Subreddit Bans Fans from Even Mentioning Sophie Cunningham After Her Defense of Women’s Sports
Man Once Given ‘Outstanding Refugee’ Award by Minnesota Charged in Massive Medicaid Fraud Scheme
El-Sayed reveals he would go ‘step further’ than Sanders on socialist plan for major US industry
Pollster Who Had Thanksgiving-Hating Socialist Up 23 Points Closes Up Shop, Admits to Bungling Wisconsin Race
Colorado black bear dies after becoming trapped inside unlocked car for days: report
The False Moderates, Part 3: Dems Want to Turn Iowa into Illinois, And They’ve Found the Perfect Candidate
Manhunt intensifies for armed woman after veteran Massachusetts police officer found dead at home
Darline Graham Nordone debate fumble spotlights questions on policy views
Trump’s approval rating plummets to new low ahead of critical midterms: ‘More work to do’
Clarence Thomas chokes up as he reveals promise he made after grandparents’ sudden deaths
Ex-counterterrorism chief advocates for Trump to ‘walk away from’ Iran war, yank troops out of Middle East
Trump says he will meet with Kim Jong Un ‘later this year’
US ally on Putin’s doorstep braces for war as Russia tensions take ominous turn
GoFundMe for Lindsay Clancy Family Skyrockets as Clancy’s Mom Reveals Her Daughter Begged to Sleep With Her at Night
New York grandmother vanishes in Las Vegas as family gets mysterious texts from her phone asking for Bitcoin
Hall and his colleagues can only speculate about the reasons for their results. But regarding the concerned but inactive, the psychological phenomenon known as moral licensing is a likely culprit.
Previous research has found doing something altruistic—even buying organic foods—gives us license to engage in selfish activity. We’ve “earned” points in our own mind. So if you’ve pledged some money to Greenpeace, you feel entitled to enjoying the convenience of a plastic bag.
Regarding climate change skeptics, remember that conservatism prizes individual action over collective efforts. So while they may assert disbelief in order to stave off coercive (in their view) actions by the government, many could take pride in doing what they can do on a personal basis.
The results suggest that “changing skeptical Americans’ minds need not be a top priority for climate policymakers,” at least if their goal is inspiring individual action. Perhaps the more urgent task is to focus on people who already grasp the problem, and get them to align their actions with their concern.
Story cited here.
