• About
    • About
    • What is Public Interest Communications?
    • Our Team
    • Theories We Use
    • What We’ve Shared
    • Center Updates
    • Programs & Affiliates
      • frank gathering
      • The Research Prize in Public Interest Communications
      • Journal of Public Interest Communications
      • UF Programs
    • Contact Us
  • Our Services
    • Strategy Consulting
    • Issue Research
    • Training – Frameworks and Custom
  • Frameworks & Resources
  • Training
  • Case Studies
Center for Public Interest Communications
Support
  • About
    • About
    • What is Public Interest Communications?
    • Our Team
    • Theories We Use
    • What We’ve Shared
    • Center Updates
    • Programs & Affiliates
      • frank gathering
      • The Research Prize in Public Interest Communications
      • Journal of Public Interest Communications
      • UF Programs
    • Contact Us
  • Our Services
    • Strategy Consulting
    • Issue Research
    • Training – Frameworks and Custom
  • Frameworks & Resources
  • Training
  • Case Studies
  • Research & Insights

How Climate Conspiracy Theories Hurt the Environment

  • September 23, 2015
  • 2 minute read
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0
0

New research suggests that the prevalence of climate-conspiracy theories may be bad for the environment.

According to findings from a study published in a 2015 issue of Personality and Individual Differences, people exposed to claims that environmental groups are faking information about climate change are likely to conclude that global warming is a hoax and that there’s no peril to the planet.

For his study, psychologist Sander van der Linden of Princeton University recruited 316 participants.

Conspiracy theories are defined as theories which “purport…that some covert and powerful individual(s), organization(s) or group(s) are intentionally plotting to accomplish some sinister goal.” In this case, the conspiracy theories revolved around the idea that climate change is a massive hoax.

The participants were divided into three groups. The first group watched a two-minute video from the climate-conspiracy movie “The Great Global Warming Swindle.” The second group watched an inspirational clip from the United Nations video, “Raise Your Voice about Climate Change.” The third group – the control – did a puzzle for two minutes.

Afterwards, the participants were asked questions about their political affiliation, whether or not they knew that most scientists agree on climate change (i.e. “to the best of your knowledge, what percent of climate scientists have concluded that human-caused climate change is happening?), their pro-environmental behaviors (whether they would sign a petition to combat climate change), and their general level of pro-social tendencies (whether they would donate to a charity within the next six months).

van der Linden found that seeing the conspiracy video had a strong impact on participants. People who saw the conspiracy movie were more likely to agree with the statement “global warming is a hoax” and “judged the scientific consensus on human-caused climate change significantly lower” than participants who saw the inspirational video. They were also much less likely to sign the climate change petition.

van der Linden notes that “the finding that brief, direct contact with conspiracy theories…can be sufficient to significantly decrease pro-environmental decision-making, including reduced confidence in the scientific consensus on climate change.”

For movement builders, this provides important context for the decisions people are making about the environment, especially as climate change conspiracy theories grow and mutate.

Personality and Individual Differences

Researchers:
Sander van der Linden, Princeton University

0
0
0
Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Share 0
Related Topics
  • frankology
Previous Article
  • Research & Insights

How To Avoid Do-Gooder Burnout

  • September 21, 2015
View Post
Next Article
  • Research & Insights

Building Stronger Relationships Between Environmentalists And Faith Communities

  • September 24, 2015
View Post
Think we can help with your goals? Read about our services and how we work.
Or reach out today to tell us a bit about your project and inquire how we might help.

 
 

Join our network

We'll send insights and opportunities when you least expect

More of our work
  • Photo by Klaus Nielsen:
    How to Use Stories to Bring ‘Us’ and ‘Them’ Together
  • BROKE project screenshot
    Re-examining narratives on poverty and wealth — the BROKE project
  • The Science of What Makes People Care
  • Finding the Right Messenger for Your Message
Latest from the Center
  • Teresa Gonzales and Nicole Bronzan
    Paper exploring local discursive frames of poverty and race wins 2023 research prize
  • Center welcomes two collaborators in research and strategy
  • 2023 Research Prize Finalists
    Center announces three finalists for the $10,000 public interest communications research prize
  • Rakeem Robinson
    Center honors the memory of colleague Rakeem Robinson
How We Help – Case Studies
  • gloved hand holding vial
    Science-based communication strategy on COVID for the UN Verified Initiative
  • Strategic Communications Academy for University of Florida Engineering Scholars
  • illustration
    Innovation Service of UNHCR: the UN Refugee Agency

Subscribe

Keep up with our latest; request our periodic newsletter.

UF Logo

Center for Public Interest Communications
PO Box 118400
Gainesville, FL 32611-8400

An auxiliary unit of the College of Journalism and Communications

Copyright © 2022

Contact Us

We are eager to chat with you about your project or training need.

Send us a note

The Center for Public Interest Communications, the first of its kind in the nation, is designed to study, test and apply the science of strategic communication for social change. We are based at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications.

  • Social Change Communication
  • Science Communication
  • Strategic Communication
  • Broader Impacts
  • Public Interest Communication
  • Narrative Change
  • Leadership Development
  • Strategy Development
  • Effective Presentations
  • Research Translation & Insights

Input your search keywords and press Enter.