Spence, A., Poortinga, W., & Pidgeon, N. (2012). The psychological distance of climate change.

Title: The psychological distance of climate change Authors: Spence, A., Poortinga, W., & Pidgeon, N. Publication Year: 2012

Summary:

In this study, Spence, Poortinga, and Pidgeon explored the concept of psychological distance in the context of climate change. Psychological distance refers to the perceived distance between an individual and an event or issue, which can be temporal, spatial, social, or hypothetical. The authors argued that climate change is often perceived as a distant problem, which may hinder public engagement and support for mitigation efforts.

To investigate this issue, the authors conducted a survey of British adults, measuring their perceptions of climate change's psychological distance across the four dimensions mentioned above. They also assessed participants' levels of concern, personal responsibility, and support for climate policies.

The results revealed that climate change was indeed perceived as psychologically distant by the respondents. It was seen as a temporally and spatially distant issue, affecting other places and future generations more than the present and local context. Furthermore, the study found that individuals who perceived climate change as more distant were less likely to be concerned, feel personal responsibility, or support climate policies.

The authors concluded that reducing the psychological distance of climate change could be an effective way to increase public engagement and support for climate action. They suggested that communication strategies should focus on emphasizing the local and immediate impacts of climate change, as well as highlighting the relevance of the issue to individuals' lives and communities.