Motivated recall in the service of the economic system: The case of anthropogenic climate change.

Abstract

The contemporary political landscape is characterized by numerous divisive issues. Unlike many other issues, however, much of the disagreement about climate change centers not on how best to take action to address the problem, but on whether the problem exists at all. Psychological studies indicate that, to the extent that sustainability initiatives are seen as threatening to the socioeconomic system, individuals may downplay environmental problems in order to defend and protect the status quo. In the current research, participants were presented with scientific information about climate change and later asked to recall details of what they had learned. Individuals who were experimentally induced (Study 1) or dispositionally inclined (Studies 2 and 3) to justify the economic system misremembered the evidence to be less serious, and this was associated with increased skepticism. However, when high system justifiers were led to believe that the economy was in a recovery, they recalled climate change information to be more serious than did those assigned to a control condition. When low system justifiers were led to believe that the economy was in recession, they recalled the information to be less serious (Study 3). These findings suggest that because system justification can impact information processing, simply providing the public with scientific evidence may be insufficient to inspire action to mitigate climate change. However, linking environmental information to statements about the strength of the economic system may satiate system justification needs and break the psychological link between proenvironmental initiatives and economic risk. (PsycINFO Database Record

The marketplace of ideology: “Elective affinities” in political psychology and their implications for consumer behavior

“…As noted above, liberals are generally more interested in pro-environmental initiatives (Jacquet, Dietrich, & Jost, 2014), and "green" marketing campaigns may even be off-putting to conservatives (Gromet, Kunreuther, & Larrick, 2013;Hardisty et al, 2010). Presumably, this is because acknowledgement of global warming is threatening to the perceived legitimacy and stability of the capitalist economic system, which is, after all, heavily dependent upon the fossil fuel industry (Feygina et al, 2010;Hennes, Ruisch, Feygina, Monteiro and Jost 2016). Evidence is accruing rapidly that conservatives are more likely to engage in conspicuous consumption of luxury items, whereas liberals are more likely to engage in sustainable consumption through the purchase of products that are environmentally friendly (e.g., Fernandes & Ordabayeva, 2014;Gromet et al, 2013;Heilen, 2014;Kim, Park, & Dubois, 2015;Maxwell-Smith, Conway, Wright, & Olson, 2016;Watkins, Aitken, & Mather, 2016).…”

Responding to Climate Change Skepticism and the Ideological Divide

“…These processes are facilitated by motivated information processing. For example, participants presented with information about climate change misremember the threat to be less serious if they are predisposed to justify the economic system (Hennes et al 2016). Similarly, feeling dependent on a system or government, which increases the motive to experience trust and confidence toward it, leads to greater avoidance of learning information that is negative or threatening to the system-such as environmental solutions (Shepherd and Kay 2012).…”

“…Messages that frame pro-environmental action as patriotic and consistent with defending the status quo and societal well-being give rise to greater intentions and actions to protect the environment among those who report a stronger system justification motive . Emphasizing the strength of the economic system and its ability to confront the threat of climate change are also promising approaches (Hennes et al 2016). …”

Beyond the Business Case: Building Upon Traditional Approaches and Opening New Spaces for Multiple Perspectives on Climate and Sustainability Communication

“…Moreover, policymakers, together with citizens, workers, and voters, must move through "elitist discourse" for global responses and actions aimed at reducing climate change threats now (Beck, 2010, p. 254). Paradoxically, it seems that merely providing the general public with scientific evidence may not be enough to change their minds or to motivate climate change action (Hennes, Ruisch, Feygina, Monteiro, & Jost, 2016), an outcome also attended to in this special issue (Hmielowski, Nisbet, & Kim). As our group of special issue authors point out, whether it's websites, radio, advertising, or news media, mass media shape our attention to, predispositions toward, perceptions of, and actions regarding problems with political implications-issues that concern all of us.…”

“…This set of articles constitutes a good start in expanding theory-building enterprises with practical implications for better understanding of climate and sustainability communication. Moving forward, I encourage greater attention to what some have argued is the crux of the climate change issue-that the disagreement stems from whether the problem exists at all rather than on how best to take corrective action (Hennes et al, 2016). I also recommend sharper focus on use of social media as a medium for persuading citizens and pressuring opinion leaders for positive climate and sustainability action.…”