Common Ground, Solution Bound: Addressing the Interpersonal Challenges of Climate Conversations Using Social Perspective Taking

• In Event: Truth and Trust: Evolving Judgments, Climate Literacy, and Conversations for Change

Abstract

Challenging interpersonal dynamics cause undesirable outcomes for discussions on many social issues, but none as existential as climate change. In this paper, we leverage social perspective taking in an intervention designed to increase positive perceptions towards an opponent who disagrees on various climate-related issues. Through four online experiments (N=1839), we test the effects of acknowledging the merits of respondents’ opinions, or establishing common ground, before offering an opposing view (as compared to opposing from the outset). We find participants who receive the common ground intervention report increased fairness, similarity, anticipated positive relationship, and perspective taking with the disagreeing other. Results related to attitudinal change are mixed. This intervention has important implications for educators navigating polarizing, ideologically charged climate change conversations.

Authors

• Lisa D. Nehring, Johns Hopkins University

• Lindi Shepard, Johns Hopkins University

• Katherine J. Cornwall, Johns Hopkins University

• Nan Mu, Indiana University

• Li Li, Johns Hopkins University

• Aishwarya Jayabharathi, Baltimore County Public Schools

• Qiyang Zhang, Johns Hopkins University

• Hunter Gehlbach, Johns Hopkins University