Coastal Community Residents and Environmental Victimhood: Perceptions of Uncertainty and Attitudes Towards Climate Change

• In Event: 3522 - Section on Environmental Sociology Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 min): Table 2: Coastal Resilience

Abstract

Rising sea levels due to climate change renders coastal shorelines as highly vulnerable to experiencing catastrophic damage. Susceptible to flooding and other extreme weather events, coastal residents are not only exposed to danger to themselves, but to their properties. Living under these precarious conditions as a disaster looms, residents at risk are faced with decisions that may require evacuation. Due to this, warranting further investigation are the cognitive thought processes of risk averse and non-risk averse individuals. Coastal residents, who are risk averse, may heed warnings and take precautionary measures in times of extreme weather events. In contrast, a non-risk averse person may perceive themselves as potential environmental victims. Theoretically, this paper will be guided by green criminology and social learning theory. Utilizing a sub-field of green criminology provides a useful conceptual framework for analyzing those who may perceived to be environmentally harmed, or green victims. In addition, social learning theory frames these issues through concepts such as imitation, definition and differential social reinforcement. The proposed outcome variable measured is perceptions of environmental victimhood; while political affiliation, risk averseness, and attitudes towards climate change serve as the independent variables.

Authors

• Anas Askar, Howard University

• Terri M. Adams, Howard University