Does exposure to positive climate action by others enhance efficacy and motivation to act?
Location
PANEL: Practical Approaches to Measuring and Promoting Systems Thinking: From Medicine to Climate Change
Science Center A255
Document Type
Presentation - Open Access
Start Date
4-26-2024 2:00 PM
End Date
4-26-2024 3:30 PM
Abstract
Polling reveals that Northeast Ohio (NEO) residents are concerned about and desire action on climate change: 73% of NEO residents believe climate change is happening; 67% believe it is already affecting local weather; 65% think citizens should do more to address climate change. However, people across the Ohio routinely underestimate the concern of others by 21% and support for policies that address climate change by 29%. This is a problem because when individuals don’t think that other people care as much as they do, they are less likely to take action themselves. Does information about the concern and positive actions of fellow community members mobilize individuals to take action? “Community Voices” (CV), is a form of social media designed for display on digital signage and websites. CV combines images and quotes drawn from interviews to create and reinforce social norms. Prior research indicates that exposure to CV enhances concern and commitment to environmental action. We are designing a study to assess whether CV content can help close the gap between perceived and actual public support for climate action. In 2023 we conducted extensive interviews with a diversity of NEO residents who are engaged in a variety of positive climate action. Based on prior research2, we are designing an online experiment to assess whether exposure to CV content developed from these interviews increases motivation for climate action. Specifically, we hypothesize that exposure will: decrease psychological distance from climate change, increase the perception of climate action as a norm, and increase efficacy.
Keywords:
Climate action, Systems thinking, Behavior change
Recommended Citation
Kearney, Bryn; Sinnet, Peyton; Bengston, Emily; Swing, Megan; Frantz, Cindy; and Petersen, John, "Does exposure to positive climate action by others enhance efficacy and motivation to act?" (2024). Research Symposium. 4.
https://digitalcommons.oberlin.edu/researchsymp/2024/presentations/4
Major
Economics; Environmental Studies
Project Mentor(s)
John Petersen, Environmental Studies and Biology
Cindy Frantz, Psychology and Environmental Studies
2024
Does exposure to positive climate action by others enhance efficacy and motivation to act?
PANEL: Practical Approaches to Measuring and Promoting Systems Thinking: From Medicine to Climate Change
Science Center A255
Polling reveals that Northeast Ohio (NEO) residents are concerned about and desire action on climate change: 73% of NEO residents believe climate change is happening; 67% believe it is already affecting local weather; 65% think citizens should do more to address climate change. However, people across the Ohio routinely underestimate the concern of others by 21% and support for policies that address climate change by 29%. This is a problem because when individuals don’t think that other people care as much as they do, they are less likely to take action themselves. Does information about the concern and positive actions of fellow community members mobilize individuals to take action? “Community Voices” (CV), is a form of social media designed for display on digital signage and websites. CV combines images and quotes drawn from interviews to create and reinforce social norms. Prior research indicates that exposure to CV enhances concern and commitment to environmental action. We are designing a study to assess whether CV content can help close the gap between perceived and actual public support for climate action. In 2023 we conducted extensive interviews with a diversity of NEO residents who are engaged in a variety of positive climate action. Based on prior research2, we are designing an online experiment to assess whether exposure to CV content developed from these interviews increases motivation for climate action. Specifically, we hypothesize that exposure will: decrease psychological distance from climate change, increase the perception of climate action as a norm, and increase efficacy.
