This post is by associate Triage Practitioner, and guest blogger, Matthew Savage
With the recent heatwave smashing temperature records across Canada and the western United States, coupled with immense flooding in Germany and the UK, it is clear to all that extreme events are occurring on a more regular basis. Most scientists attribute this to climate change; the warming of our Earths atmosphere due to greenhouses gases, such as Carbon Dioxide, being released due to human activity (Cook et al., 2016; Oreskes, 2004). These events raise many questions, for numerous people across the world. The temperatures almost hit 50 degrees in the Canadian village of Lytton, where, a day later, the village was consumed by forest fire. Cities must start to incorporate climate-adaption strategies and this will be a major job for urban planners and other engineers. But what contribution can the science of psychology make to the future of our planet and its protection from extreme climate change?
Extreme Climate Events in 2021
Previously, extreme drought and sea-level rises were touted as the big dangers of climate change. However, these were attributed to the developing world, and not such a concern for the developed countries of the world (O'Driscoll, 2021). However, 2021 has seen a real shift in these concerns, with 200 dead following extreme flooding in Germany and Belgium, the heaviest snowfall for 50 years in Madrid causing £1.2 billion worth of damage, as well as winter snowstorms in Texas, leaving 3.5 million homes and businesses without power. In addition to this, extreme temperatures have been seen numerous times already in 2021 with the heat dome over the pacific northwest leading to hundreds dead and record temperatures recorded in Moscow. Climate scientists have warned of the likelihood of these events occurring for years, hypothesising that just a 1.5% increase in global temperatures above pre-industrial levels could lead to mass extensions due to loss of ecosystems, an increase in desert area of the world, shifting climate belts and huge problems for populations across the world as humans try to adapt to the changes they face. In addition to this, extreme drought, increased rainfall and flooding, as well as extreme temperatures, are all predicted. Some cities have prepared for such scenarios, with Jacobabad in southern Pakistan and Ras Al-Khaimah in the United Ara Emirates already recording temperatures classed as beyond the limits of survival for the human body (Nature, 2021), meaning action must be taken now.
How Can Psychological Science Help?
A strong understanding of psychology and sociology is vitally important in the world today, particularly when considering the future of human populations. There are a number of ways psychological science can support global efforts in combating climate change:
- Self interest vs. collaborative effort – It is commonplace to examine the personalities of societies and the moral values held within them. Scores of self-interest vs the best interests of social conscience are a regular comparison across the globe, with the USA regarded as very much driven by the former, whereby the social democratic nations of Scandinavia would be seen as having a more societal focus. If people believe their individual efforts make little impact on society and the world as a whole, this can lead to less cooperation and more distrust of wider advice (Van Lange et al., 2013). For example, the USA has seen scepticism grow surrounding the effects of global warming across the globe, even prior to Trumps rise to Presidency, and much of this can be attributed to the growth in individualism and self-interest. Psychology can help by developing initiatives and recommendations which are country and area specific, giving factual and concrete information to motivate changes in behaviour (Van Lange et al, 2018), particularly in a world of misinformation. More specific and targeting information can make people feel their individual actions do have an effect on the wider world.
- Encouraging global cooperation through altruistic competition – With the recent extreme events hitting all continents of the earth, it is vital to understand global warming as a truly international event which requires worldwide cooperation. Psychological science can provide an understanding of intergroup conflict, something that is common between countries, as well as regions of single countries. Roberts (1998) defined the term “competitive altruism”, whereby individuals, regions or countries may compete for a socially desirable trait to be attributed to them. In this example, countries may be motivated to compete for a certain reputation that may be popular across the globe or within their local communities. For example, forward thinking, progressive and “environmentally friendly” reputations are desirable traits in many countries across the world. Global ranking systems could foster better results in the future through encouraging rivalries and friendly competition, driven by the psychology of pride and duty.
- Kinship cues bring the future to the present – Evolutionary speaking, short term goals are prioritised by animals and humans alike. However, global warming needs to be brought to the present to ensure that people take it seriously. Psychological sciences can aid in this by encouraging what is known as kinship cues, particularly those cues towards younger and more vulnerable people in society. These encourage a sense of kinship, defined as a recognition of shared physical characteristics (phenotype kinship such as facial similarity or genes) or of origins and contextual kinship, such as a shared location (DeBruine, 2014). If campaigns focus on children and put the focus on the young, this can trigger action from older generations who may be better placed, and previously less proactive, to combat climate change (Van Lange et al, 2018). Greta Thunberg, one of today’s most famous climate change activist, is a prime example of the power of kinship cues and calls to action from a young, passionate individual who would normally be seen as somewhat vulnerable in society. Without understanding emotional hooks and triggers, something Greta includes in many of her speeches, humans can fall prey to temporal discounting, prioritising the short term over the long-term.
- Mitigation strategies – Psychology is contributing to understanding what people currently believe about climate change and working out ways to change people’s behaviour away from environmentally harmful activities (Lorenzoni and Pidgeon, 2006). Barrier identification is an important aspect of this, and this can include socioeconomic issues, time constraints and misguided beliefs, with the latter a huge problem in todays globalized world. Social media has made it possible for everyone to “be an expert”, but many individuals are unaware of bias in sources and are easily led. As humans, we can fall prey to a number of psychological behaviours such as confirmation bias, cognitive dissonance and our brains can easily become cognitive miser, which is the tendency of our brain to take mental shortcuts to make judgements and to draw inferences. A strong understanding of these phenomena are vital in the creation of mitigation strategies and calls to action.
Conclusion
As has been shown, global warming is a very complex matter which requires a global effort to combat. So far, the world is failing in its attempts to combat climate change, driven by leaders such as Donald Trump who regularly discredit global warming initiatives. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2007) has concluded we have 15 years left to make a difference to greenhouse gas emissions, before we cause further irreversible and hugely costly consequences. Psychology plays an important role in developing policies and mitigation strategies, encouraging cooperation, combating shortcuts in the brain and also fostering friendly rivalry to really try and convince the global population to make meaningful changes – before its too late.
About Matt Savage
Matthew Savage is an associate Triage Practitioner, has an MSc in Psychology, is a qualified personal trainer, and has worked within the field of cognitive rehabilitation for 5 years. He is an FA qualified football coach, with a keen interest in moral behaviour and wellbeing within team sports.
References
DeBruine, L. (2014). A Sense of Family: Research in Human Kin Recognition. Association for Psychological Science. Doi: https://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/a-sense-of-family
IPCC, 2007: Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Solomon, S., D. Qin, M. Manning, Z. Chen, M. Marquis, K.B. Averyt, M.Tignor and H.L. Miller (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA.
O’Driscoll, J. (2021). World’s most extreme weather events in 2021. The Week. Dennis Publishing. Doi: https://www.theweek.co.uk/news/environment/953574/worlds-most-extreme-weather-events-2021
Van Lange PAM, Joireman J, Milinski M. Climate Change: What Psychology Can Offer in Terms of Insights and Solutions. Curr Dir Psychol Sci. 2018 Aug;27(4):269-274. doi: 10.1177/0963721417753945. Epub 2018 Jul 12. PMID: 30166778; PMCID: PMC6099976
Spence, A., Pidgeon, N., Uzzell, D. (2009). Climate change – psychology's contribution. The Psychologist. BPS. Volume 22, pp118. Doi: https://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/volume-22/edition-2/climate-change-psychologys-contribution