Publikationen (FIS)

Perspective-taking with affected others to promote climate change mitigation

verfasst von
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.

Organisationseinheit(en)
Institut für Umweltplanung
Umweltverhalten und Planung
Leibniz Forschungszentrum Energie 2050
Externe Organisation(en)
Universität Osnabrück
Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung (UFZ)
Typ
Artikel
Journal
Frontiers in psychology
Band
14
ISSN
1664-1078
Publikationsdatum
28.09.2023
Publikationsstatus
Veröffentlicht
Peer-reviewed
Ja
ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete
Psychologie (insg.)
Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung
SDG 13 – Klimaschutzmaßnahmen
Elektronische Version(en)
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1225165 (Zugang: Offen)