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Fear and Anxiety: The Effects of Global Climate Change Perceptions. SUNY Oswego- Global Labs UNIBE Courtney Bled soe , Aug ustus Mc G ive r. Abstract. This research centers around climate change and our physiological and psychological responses to it.
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Fear and Anxiety: The Effects of Global Climate Change Perceptions SUNY Oswego- Global Labs UNIBE Courtney Bledsoe, Augustus McGiver
Abstract • This research centers around climate change and our physiological and psychological responses to it. • We used 4 types of physiological measures: Pulse, Galvanic skin response (GSR), Electromyogram (EMG) and Respiration.
Introduction • There are several human behavioral contributions to climate change. • It is often discussed that, to keep the climate from changing drastically, humans must change certain behaviors. • There are many psychological barriers that limit behavioral changes. • There has been a multitude of research done to show that climate change can lead to a psychological response of anxiety or fear. • This study topic has been chosen to help further analyze these psychological barriers.
Location • This study took place in San Jose, Costa Rica. • UNIBE- Universidad de Iberoamerica.
Objectives The objectives of this experiment are as follows: • To observe whether or not there are changes in physiological responses when stimulated with video of a natural disaster. • To view first hand, the factors that might influence the responses.
Hypothesis • There will be a significant increase in physiological and psychological responses when exposed to natural disaster stimuli
Methods • Participants were chosen from students that attend UNIBE and also from the U.S.A • They were given a consent form to sign; then the participants were asked several pre-stimuli questions to answer. • Following that, they were asked to sit down and the equipment was hooked up to them. • A two minute baseline, to test the equipment, was taken and then they were shown a fifteen minute video clip of a natural disaster. • After the video, the participants were asked to answer a few post-stimuli questions.
Measurements - Pulse Monitor Measures heart rate - Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) Measures electrical conductance of sweat glands - Respiratory Band Measures breathing rate - Electromyogram (EMG) Measures electrical activity produced by muscles
Respiration Results Paired Samples t-test
Discussion • Upon further analysis we hope to look at EMG and GSR data. We also would like to compare the differences between independent variables such as gender, major, location, etc. • In future experiments we'd like to compare data with a larger sample size across multiple cultures. • Our data supported the notion that respiration rate was significantly decreased during multiple sections of the video when compared to the baseline.
Contact Information Courtney: bledsoe@oswego.edu Augustus: mcgiver@oswego.edu