Shifting the Perspective of Climate Skeptics

• In Event: Socioscientific Issues and Community Knowledge

Abstract

Climate skeptics (e.g., conservatives) frequently doubt the impact of climate change, the validity of climate science, and the value of the natural environment. How to persuade skeptics of the severity of climate issues becomes a profound educational challenge. Leveraging the potential of a social-perspective taking intervention, we tested whether taking the protagonist’s perspective while reading a climate-related news story reduced conservative participants’ skepticism. Our online experiment (N = 299) showed the intervention increased concern about the impact of climate change, bolstered belief in climate science, and enhanced valuing of the natural environment. The implications for social perspective taking to address unique educational challenges such as teaching about climate science are discussed.

Authors

• Rohan Arcot, Johns Hopkins University

• Claire Chuter, Johns Hopkins University

• Katherine Cornwall, Johns Hopkins University

• Nan Mu, Indiana University

• Carly D Robinson, Brown University

• Christine Calderon Vriesema, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

• Hunter Gehlbach, Johns Hopkins University