The Dragons of Inaction : Psychological Barriers That Limit Climate Change Mitigation

1. The Dragons of Inaction : Psychological Barriers That Limit Climate Change Mitigation PSYC 515 Tim Enad Dominique Eyl Natalie Hejran Julie Hernandez Gifford, R. (2011). The dragons of inaction: Psychological barriers that limit climate change mitigation and adaptation. American Psychologist, 66(4), 290-302. doi: 10.1037/a0023566

2. Introduction • 29 psychological barriers – “dragons of inaction” • Broken into 7 categories: • Limited cognition • Ideologies • Comparisons with others • Sunk costs • Discredence • Perceived risks • Limited behaviour Gifford, R. (2011). The dragons of inaction: Psychological barriers that limit climate change mitigation and adaptation. American Psychologist, 66(4), 290-302.doi: 10.1037/a0023566

3. Limited Cognition • Ancient brain • We remain concerned with present time, dangers, and resources • Environmental numbness • With too much stimuli about the environment, we become numb to its message • Judgmental discounting • The act of undervaluing future risk • Conditions are perceived as worse in places other than ones own habitat • Optimism bias • Perception the environment will worsen in the future and in areas outside where one lives • Perceived behavioural control • A lack of action due to a perceived lack of worthwhile effect Gifford, R. (2011). The dragons of inaction: Psychological barriers that limit climate change mitigation and adaptation. American Psychologist, 66(4), 290-302.doi: 10.1037/a0023566

4. Ideologies • Suprahuman powers • A deity or nature itself will solve our climate problems • Technosalvation • Technology will solve our climate problems • System justification • The tendency to defend the status quo Gifford, R. (2011). The dragons of inaction: Psychological barriers that limit climate change mitigation and adaptation. American Psychologist, 66(4), 290-302.doi: 10.1037/a0023566

5. Comparisons with Others • Social comparison • We derive norms about what is right based on the actions of others • Social norms • Perceived inequity • The fear you will be taken advantage of by those who do not take action if you choose to Gifford, R. (2011). The dragons of inaction: Psychological barriers that limit climate change mitigation and adaptation. American Psychologist, 66(4), 290-302.doi: 10.1037/a0023566

6. Sunk Costs • Financial investments • After making a financial investment, it’s hard to turn your back on it • Behavioural momentum • Some behaviours are so habituated they are resistant to change • These behaviours require a substantial push to change • Conflicting values, goals, or aspirations • The desire to get ahead often outranks the desire to change behaviours to mitigate climate change Gifford, R. (2011). The dragons of inaction: Psychological barriers that limit climate change mitigation and adaptation. American Psychologist, 66(4), 290-302.doi: 10.1037/a0023566

7. Discredence • Perceived program inadequacy • Many programs are voluntary so many citizens think it’s not worth their time • Reactance • Change threatens freedom Gifford, R. (2011). The dragons of inaction: Psychological barriers that limit climate change mitigation and adaptation. American Psychologist, 66(4), 290-302.doi: 10.1037/a0023566

8. Perceived Risks and Limited Behaviour • Functional • Financial • Social • Temporal • Tokenism • Some pro-environmental actions do not do as much for the environment but are easier for people to adopt • Rebound effect • Pro-environmental action is taken but results in anti-environmental behaviour Gifford, R. (2011). The dragons of inaction: Psychological barriers that limit climate change mitigation and adaptation. American Psychologist, 66(4), 290-302.doi: 10.1037/a0023566

9. Bill Nye and Rep. Blackburn • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MR4GrHPDcWE Gifford, R. (2011). The dragons of inaction: Psychological barriers that limit climate change mitigation and adaptation. American Psychologist, 66(4), 290-302.doi: 10.1037/a0023566

10. Critical ReviewInformative Points • Judgmental discounting in Britain: inhabitants think environmental conditions in similar cities are worse • Many of Gifford’s points overlapped: several dragons are perhaps one idea • When people are uncertain of the amount left in a resource pool, they tend to use that resource at a rate of self-interest rather than what is best for the environment Gifford, R. (2011). The dragons of inaction: Psychological barriers that limit climate change mitigation and adaptation. American Psychologist, 66(4), 290-302.doi: 10.1037/a0023566

11. Critical ReviewWeak Arguments • Lack of evidence for the idea of (lack of) place attachments: people are more likely to care for a place they feel attached to. • Lack of evidence for discredence: when individuals hold the views of others in a negative light, they are unlikely to take direction from those others • No hard evidence that any of the six perceived risks Gifford mentioned actually lead to engagement in environmentally friendly behaviors Gifford, R. (2011). The dragons of inaction: Psychological barriers that limit climate change mitigation and adaptation. American Psychologist, 66(4), 290-302.doi: 10.1037/a0023566

12. Questions • Do you think the debate mentioned any dragon of inaction? Was there a proposed solution? • Some of these psychological barriers are similar; should they be approached together or separately? • Based on the psychological barriers presented, which group do you think would be most effective in bringing about change? Gifford, R. (2011). The dragons of inaction: Psychological barriers that limit climate change mitigation and adaptation. American Psychologist, 66(4), 290-302.doi: 10.1037/a0023566