Publications (FIS)
Perspective-taking with affected others to promote climate change mitigation
- authored by
- Ann Kathrin Koessler, Nicolai Heinz, Stefanie Engel
- Abstract
Prior evidence suggests that perspective-taking may promote pro-environmental behavior, at least for low-cost behaviors or local environmental problems. Climate change, however, requires costly mitigation efforts and is a global problem. Thus, in this study, we examine whether perspective-taking in the context of climate change is effective in promoting mitigation behaviors, including actual and/or costly behaviors, the mechanisms through which perspective-taking works, and if the distance to the person adversely affected by climate change matters for the effect. We conducted an online experiment with a non-student sample from Germany (n = 557), utilizing a 2 × 2 factorial design, to investigate the impact of perspective-taking and distance on three outcome measures: a climate donation, signing a petition, and approval of mitigation policies. We find that perspective-taking does not promote these mitigation behaviors, yet it raises the degree perspective-takers value and – for close others – feel connected with the affected person. Exploratory analysis shows that dispositional perspective-taking and empathic concern are correlated with mitigation behaviors.
- Organisation(s)
-
Institute of Environmental Planning
Environmental Behaviour and Planning
Leibniz Research Centre Energy 2050
- External Organisation(s)
-
Osnabrück University
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ)
- Type
- Article
- Journal
- Frontiers in psychology
- Volume
- 14
- ISSN
- 1664-1078
- Publication date
- 28.09.2023
- Publication status
- Published
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychology(all)
- Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 13 - Climate Action
- Electronic version(s)
-
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1225165 (Access:
Open)