Recent developments in the social identity approach to the psychology of climate change

Mackay, Caroline M.L.; Schmitt, Michael; Lutz, Annika E.; Mendel, Jonathan

doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.04.009

Cited by 55 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 71 publications

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“…Likewise, it is somewhat surprising that the literature tracking progress on main adaptation measures tends to ignore heuristics influencing adaptation action, despite heuristics becoming part of the way things are done and absorbed into tacit knowledge and pathways, passed on through training and experience (Nalau et al 2021). As individuals, farmers are not 'blank slates' receiving information and evaluating climate change experience: their attitudinal and behavioural response results from how that experience is interpreted and appraised (Hamilton-Webb et al 2019) according to different socio-psychological filters, such as religion, emotions, memories, worldview, ideology, political orientation, activism, communication and information networks, social interdependence, or spatial geography (Howe et al 2019a, Dietz 2020, Ruiz et al 2020, Brosch 2021, Mackay et al 2021, Mallappa and Shivamurthy 2021. Our sciencemetric study reveals that most of these factorsincluding climate change scepticism or uncertainty (Howe et al 2019b, Poortinga et al 2019 remain timely or geographically underexplored in current literature.…”

Section: Consolidated and To Consolidate Research Areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

On farmers’ perceptions of climate change and its nexus with climate data and adaptive capacity. A comprehensive review

Ricart

Castelletti

Gandolfi

2022

Environ. Res. Lett.

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Farmers’ perception of climate change is crucial in adaptation intention and process. However, farmers’ perceptions may not be timely, accurate and systematically consistent with the direction and significance of observational records. Although some research compared farmers’ perceptions and climate data, little attention has been paid to comprehensibly analyse both data sources discrepancies based on empirical studies results. By combining bibliometrics and a systematic review approach, we identify which approaches are used to compare perceived and observed data, how both patterns have been mutually evolved, which factors determine their (in)consistency, and if their accordance and robustness affect farmers’ adaptive capacity. We analyse a portfolio of 147 papers collected from the Scopus library catalogue since 2000. The bibliometric analysis was coupled with an exploratory analysis of 98 papers selected from the original portfolio. The literature is extensive, fast-growing, and spans several disciplines. We identify four consolidated research lines: i) perceived risk and farmers’ adaptive capacity nexus, ii) crop vulnerability due to temperature increase and erratic rainfall patterns, iii) forecasting use and influence in farmers’ decisions, and iv) climate change awareness conditioning farmers’ profiles. Nonetheless, we observe some research gaps: 1) a conceptual mismatch in ‘normal pattern’ or ‘drought’ meaning, 2) poor or limited data from meteorological stations, 3) overlook or oversimplification of local knowledge in describing perception, 4) farmers’ memory weaknesses to keep track of climate alterations, and 5) a geographical dissonance in favour of Global South regions. Our science-metric study also reveals some research questions to be consolidated: Can the perception of extreme events increase climate change awareness? Can greater awareness reduce discrepancy with observed data? How do heuristics and socio-psychological filters influence farmers’ awareness and interpretation of climate data? We suggest putting major efforts into reinforcing these research lines as part of a novel domain-dependent trend to reduce the discrepancy.

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Section: Consolidated and To Consolidate Research Areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

On farmers’ perceptions of climate change and its nexus with climate data and adaptive capacity. A comprehensive review

Ricart

Castelletti

Gandolfi

2022

Environ. Res. Lett.

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“…Social identity approaches offer a framework for considering how coalitions can be formed and maintained across differences. Moreover, interventions that capitalize on social identity processes have been shown to be effective at motivating cooperation in resource dilemmas, as well as collective action in a wide range of real-world contexts (Green, 2021; Klavina & Van Zomeren, 2020; Mackay et al, 2021).…”

Section: Theoretical Perspectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Building diverse climate coalitions: The pitfalls and promise of equity- and identity-based messaging.

Tsai¹,

Pearson²

2022

Translational Issues in Psychological Science

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In response to the largest climate demonstrations in history and growing recognition of the disproportionate impacts of climate change on disadvantaged communities, environmental organizations are increasingly looking to diversify their memberships and enhance public outreach. In this review, we consider unique challenges inherent in building racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse climate coalitions and highlight three often implicit assumptions that may undermine the effectiveness of equity-and identity-based climate communications and public outreach efforts: (a) that prodiversity messaging is viewed as inclusive by both racial and ethnic majority and minority groups; (b) that making specific identity groups salient will engage targeted individuals; and (c) that enhancing the salience of climate-related inequities bolsters public support for efforts to reduce those inequities. Drawing from psychological research and theory as well as real-world examples, we discuss problems with each of these assumptions, highlight current knowledge gaps, and offer practical recommendations for more effectively tailoring communications to broaden public engagement across differences.What is the significance of this article for the general public?The present review suggests that many appeals designed to promote diversity and broaden public engagement may in fact impede the formation and growth of racially and socioeconomically diverse climate coalitions. We highlight three tacit assumptions often present in equity-and identity-based organizational communications that may undermine their effectiveness. We offer practical recommendations for strengthening inclusive messaging and enhancing public support for equity-based climate policies and initiatives.

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“…These studies focus on pro-environmental behavior as one component of climate action, because the latter comprises any "activities and behavior of individuals, groups, and organizations […] deliberately directed at preventing or reducing climate-related damages to society" (Tosun 2022, p. 1). The mechanisms through which social identities influence pro-environmental preferences and behavior run through group norms, social influence, and efficacy and emotions associated with collective action (Mackay et al 2021).…”

Section: Social Identities and Climate Actionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social identities in climate action

Hornung

2022

Clim Action

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With the increasingly hazardous effects of climate change on nature and humanity, a key question in social science research is how to foster climate action, i.e., individual and collective behavior towards containment of negative consequences of climate change. Even political measures adopted by associations, political parties, governments, and governing coalitions, as well as by private stakeholders and companies, are decided upon by individual actors. Therefore, to understand and promote climate action, it is indispensable to shed light on the driving forces of individual behavior with a specific focus on what leads them to align their actions with the expected (positive) consequences on the environment. A key challenge is that individual behavior only limitedly follows a rational weighing of costs and benefits. Instead, deeply anchored beliefs, situational constellations, emotions, and the identification with social groups have been found to be significantly influential on individual action. This contribution presents a short review of the psychological roots of climate action and emphasizes the relevance of social identities. It thereby sets out a theoretical framework to explain climate action at the individual yet political level and provides empirical evidence for the role that social groups play in explaining and guiding climate action. The focus on social groups holds important implications for practitioners.

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Recent developments in the social identity approach to the psychology of climate change

Cited by 55 publications

References 71 publications

On farmers’ perceptions of climate change and its nexus with climate data and adaptive capacity. A comprehensive review

On farmers’ perceptions of climate change and its nexus with climate data and adaptive capacity. A comprehensive review

Building diverse climate coalitions: The pitfalls and promise of equity- and identity-based messaging.

Social identities in climate action

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