Evaluating the Theory of the AnthroShift: How are Extreme Events Related to Pro-Climate Attitudes and Behaviors

• In Event: Environmental Sociology Section Open Call Paper Session

Abstract

In 2019 Fisher and Jorgenson introduced the theory of the AnthroShift to understand the society-environment relationship and understand “how risk contributes to reconfigurations of the state, market, and civil society sectors” (p. 354). This paper assesses the AnthroShift at the individual level by analyzing a new dataset collected from a national sample of adults in the US (N = 1,500) to understand how experiencing climate shocks is associated with attitudes and behaviors that have been found to contribute to reducing the climate crisis. Specifically, we look at how personally reported experiences with climate change-exacerbated extreme events is associated with support for both the science of climate change and heightened levels of civic engagement. We combine the sociological theory of the AnthroShift with the growing literature from across the social sciences that documents how experiencing climate shocks can lead to more pro-climate attitudes and behaviors. This paper is separated into three sections. First, we present the theory of the AnthroShift, which discusses how risk pivots can drive environmental behaviors and connect it with the growing research on the effects of climate shocks. Next, we present our data and discuss the results of our analysis of a national dataset of adults in the US that was collected in fall 2025. Finally, we discuss the implications of our findings, in terms of understanding the relationship between climate shocks, climate attitudes, and behaviors, as well as for our understanding of the society-environment relationship and the sociological theory of the AnthroShift.

Authors

• Dana R. Fisher, American University

• Arman Azedi, American University