Wired to fail? The effect of climate change narratives on pro-environment attitudes and behavior

• In Event: Political Sociology Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Environmental Politics (Table 6)

Abstract

Climate change inaction is frequently attributed to the “Psychological Barriers Explanation” (PBE), which suggests human evolution leaves us ill-equipped to handle distant, abstract threats. While popular, this narrative risks making climate paralysis appear natural and unavoidable. This study investigates whether framing inaction as psychologically inevitable acts as a self-fulfilling prophecy that dampens public engagement. To test this, we are conducting a large-scale randomized controlled vignette experiment in Spring 2026. Participants are assigned to one of three reading conditions: a text promoting the PBE narrative, a text highlighting successful climate mobilization, or an unrelated control text. We then measure the effects of these narratives on climate fatalism, collective efficacy beliefs, policy support, and behavioral intentions. Ultimately, this research aims to determine if the explanations used to diagnose climate inaction actually aggravate the problem.

Author

• Filip Olsson, European University Institute