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.
CNN Analyst Breaks Down the Numbers for Dems, Reveals Their Own Voters Can’t Stand Them
Blue States Scrambling to Circumvent SCOTUS Ruling, Save Censorship of Gender Counseling
Billboard trolling Dale Warner goes viral after his murder conviction in wife Dee’s case
Watch: Inept Texas Judge Blasted After Camera Catches Him Cursing Kind Computer Tech – Now His Nasty Emails Demanding Respect Have Leaked, Too
One of a Kind Video: Kid Rock Uses Apache Hovering Behind His House to Torment Gavin Newsom
Tax day is next week: Avoid these 5 common mistakes that can cost you money
Trump admin urges restoring ballroom construction in emergency motion: ‘Time is of the essence’
Philadelphia man stabs Planet Fitness worker after getting banned from gym: police
Inside the daring rescue of airman behind enemy lines: How CIA assisted with ‘deception campaign’
Trump Admin to Investigate School District Accused of Putting Girls in Danger Over ‘Gender Identity’ Policy
Ex-Fox News Regular Suggests Trump’s US Is Beginning to Mirror North Korea
Trump vows US will strike Iran’s power plants, bridges if Strait of Hormuz is not reopened
Art heist targeting million-dollar masterpieces exposes blind spots in museum defenses, expert warns
Federal judge blocks Trump push to collect race-based admissions data
Scott Jennings Mocks Dems Over Radical ‘No Kings’ Rallies
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.”
CNN Analyst Breaks Down the Numbers for Dems, Reveals Their Own Voters Can’t Stand Them
Blue States Scrambling to Circumvent SCOTUS Ruling, Save Censorship of Gender Counseling
Billboard trolling Dale Warner goes viral after his murder conviction in wife Dee’s case
Watch: Inept Texas Judge Blasted After Camera Catches Him Cursing Kind Computer Tech – Now His Nasty Emails Demanding Respect Have Leaked, Too
One of a Kind Video: Kid Rock Uses Apache Hovering Behind His House to Torment Gavin Newsom
Tax day is next week: Avoid these 5 common mistakes that can cost you money
Trump admin urges restoring ballroom construction in emergency motion: ‘Time is of the essence’
Philadelphia man stabs Planet Fitness worker after getting banned from gym: police
Inside the daring rescue of airman behind enemy lines: How CIA assisted with ‘deception campaign’
Trump Admin to Investigate School District Accused of Putting Girls in Danger Over ‘Gender Identity’ Policy
Ex-Fox News Regular Suggests Trump’s US Is Beginning to Mirror North Korea
Trump vows US will strike Iran’s power plants, bridges if Strait of Hormuz is not reopened
Art heist targeting million-dollar masterpieces exposes blind spots in museum defenses, expert warns
Federal judge blocks Trump push to collect race-based admissions data
Scott Jennings Mocks Dems Over Radical ‘No Kings’ Rallies
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.
