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Climate change helplessness and the (de)moralization of individual energy behavior
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Salomon, Erika, Preston, Jesse and Tannenbaum, Melanie B. (2017) Climate change helplessness and the (de)moralization of individual energy behavior. Journal of Experimental Psychology : Applied, 23 (1). pp. 15-28. doi:10.1037/xap0000105 ISSN 1076-898X.
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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/xap0000105
Abstract
Although most people understand the threat of climate change, they do little to modify their own energy conservation behavior. One reason for this gap between belief and behavior may be that individual actions seem un-impactful and therefore are not morally relevant. This research investigates how climate change helplessness—belief that one’s actions cannot affect climate change—can undermine the moralization of climate change and personal energy conservation. In Study 1, climate change efficacy predicted both moralization of energy use and energy conservation intentions beyond individual belief in climate change. In Studies 2 and 3, participants read information about climate change that varied in efficacy message, that is, whether individual actions (e.g., using less water, turning down heat) make a difference in the environment. Participants who read that their behavior made a meaningful impact reported stronger moralization and intentions (Study 2), and reported less energy consumption one week later (Study 3). Moreover, effects on intentions and actions were mediated by changes in moralization. We discuss ways to improve climate change messages to foster environmental efficacy and moralization of personal energy use.
Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||||
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Subjects: | Q Science > Q Science (General) | ||||||
Divisions: | Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Science > Psychology | ||||||
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Climatic changes., Climatic changes -- Public opinion., Global warming., Climatic changes -- Government policy., Energy conservation. | ||||||
Journal or Publication Title: | Journal of Experimental Psychology : Applied | ||||||
Publisher: | American Psychological Association | ||||||
ISSN: | 1076-898X | ||||||
Official Date: | 1 March 2017 | ||||||
Dates: |
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Volume: | 23 | ||||||
Number: | 1 | ||||||
Page Range: | pp. 15-28 | ||||||
DOI: | 10.1037/xap0000105 | ||||||
Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||||
Publication Status: | Published | ||||||
Access rights to Published version: | Restricted or Subscription Access | ||||||
Date of first compliant deposit: | 28 November 2017 | ||||||
Date of first compliant Open Access: | 28 November 2017 |
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