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Encouraging Individuals to Adapt to Climate Change: Relations between Coping Strategies and Psychological Distance

Author

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  • Mary Guillard

    (Laboratoire de Psychologie des Pays de la Loire (LPPL–EA 4638), Faculty of Psychology, University of Angers, University of Nantes, F-44000 Nantes, France)

  • Ghozlane Fleury-Bahi

    (Laboratoire de Psychologie des Pays de la Loire (LPPL–EA 4638), Faculty of Psychology, University of Angers, University of Nantes, F-44000 Nantes, France)

  • Oscar Navarro

    (Laboratoire de Psychologie des Pays de la Loire (LPPL–EA 4638), Faculty of Psychology, University of Angers, University of Nantes, F-44000 Nantes, France)

Abstract

Experts agree that the environmental situation in relation to climate change requires that populations mobilize. In this respect, research on psychological distance shows that the fact of perceiving an event as concrete leads individuals to adapt to this environmental issue. The first aim of this research study is to identify the different types of environmental coping as regards climate change. The second objective is to study the relations between psychological distance relative to climate change and environmental coping strategies via a quasi-experimental protocol. In order to do this, 345 participants were assigned to a group where climate change was presented as more or less distant from a spatial, temporal, social or hypothetical point of view. On the one hand, the results enable the identification of two second-order factors regarding coping strategies in relation to climate change: Strategies centered on accepting climate change and those centered on minimizing its gravity. On the other hand, covariance analyses and path analyses show that, in general, a small psychological distance in relation to climate change is likely to be associated with more strategies centered on accepting climate change and fewer strategies focused on minimizing its gravity. This study leads us to ponder the pertinence of considering the psychological distance model, notably during awareness-raising campaigns.

Suggested Citation

  • Mary Guillard & Ghozlane Fleury-Bahi & Oscar Navarro, 2021. "Encouraging Individuals to Adapt to Climate Change: Relations between Coping Strategies and Psychological Distance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-15, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:2:p:992-:d:483203
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Alexa Spence & Wouter Poortinga & Nick Pidgeon, 2012. "The Psychological Distance of Climate Change," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 32(6), pages 957-972, June.
    2. Adrian Brügger & Suraje Dessai & Patrick Devine-Wright & Thomas A. Morton & Nicholas F. Pidgeon, 2015. "Psychological responses to the proximity of climate change," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 5(12), pages 1031-1037, December.
    3. Singh, Ajay S. & Zwickle, Adam & Bruskotter, Jeremy T. & Wilson, Robyn, 2017. "The perceived psychological distance of climate change impacts and its influence on support for adaptation policy," Environmental Science & Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 93-99.
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    5. Adam Corner & Lorraine Whitmarsh & Dimitrios Xenias, 2012. "Uncertainty, scepticism and attitudes towards climate change: biased assimilation and attitude polarisation," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 114(3), pages 463-478, October.
    6. Charlotte Jones & Donald W. Hine & Anthony D. G. Marks, 2017. "The Future is Now: Reducing Psychological Distance to Increase Public Engagement with Climate Change," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 37(2), pages 331-341, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Panu Pihkala, 2022. "The Process of Eco-Anxiety and Ecological Grief: A Narrative Review and a New Proposal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-53, December.
    2. Vicky-Lauren Bekoum Essokolo & Elisabeth Robinot, 2022. "«Let’s Go Deep into the Game to Save Our Planet!» How an Immersive and Educational Video Game Reduces Psychological Distance and Raises Awareness," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-24, May.

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