In this enlightening discussion, Harvard psychologist Dan Gilbert dives into why climate change fails to trigger our alarm systems. He explains the psychological barriers that make us apathetic toward long-term threats, contrasting that with our instinctual reactions to immediate danger. Gilbert offers insights on harnessing human psychology to inspire climate action, emphasizing the power of social emulation and framing environmental issues in relatable terms. He also highlights how meaningful strategies can enhance our well-being while addressing climate challenges.
Our brains prioritize immediate threats and struggle to respond effectively to long-term dangers like climate change, lacking the features that trigger a threat response, such as intentionality, harm from agents, and moral violations.
To encourage action on climate change, it is important to overcome our psychological biases and pursue a combination of psychological approaches, individual efforts, and systemic changes, such as highlighting positive examples, emphasizing the benefits of addressing climate change, and advocating for policies that promote sustainability and reduce fossil fuel use.
Deep dives
Our brains struggle to prioritize long-term threats
Our brains are wired to prioritize immediate threats, such as a saber-toothed tiger, over long-term threats, like climate change. When faced with dangers that are not immediate or agentive (caused by humans), our brains struggle to respond effectively. Climate change lacks the features that trigger a threat response in the human brain, leading many individuals to downplay or ignore the problem. Our brains prioritize threats caused by people, with an emphasis on intentionality, harm from agents, and moral violations. Without these elements, climate change doesn't generate outrage or a sense of urgency. Our bias towards immediate threats and our tendency to adapt to slow changes hinder our ability to take action against climate change. However, if we can frame climate change as an agentive, moral harm with immediate consequences, we may be more likely to respond.
Overcoming biases to address climate change
To encourage action on climate change, it is important to overcome our psychological biases. One strategy is to provide examples of others taking sustainable actions, as humans tend to emulate what is considered normal in their social environment. Highlighting the positive benefits of addressing climate change, such as job creation and economic opportunities, can also motivate action. Recognizing our own biases and the limitations of individual behavior change, it is crucial to pursue systemic change through political action. By advocating for policies that reduce fossil fuel use and promote sustainability, we can create widespread impact that goes beyond individual actions. A combination of psychological approaches, individual efforts, and systemic changes is necessary to effectively address climate change.
Using affective forecasting and positive framing
Affective forecasting, the process of predicting our future emotions, often leads us to overestimate the negative consequences of making sustainable choices. However, these predictions can be inaccurate. One strategy to overcome this bias is to seek the experiences and testimonies of individuals who have already made sustainable choices, like owning electric vehicles (EVs). Hearing positive experiences can counter our negative anticipations and provide a more accurate understanding of the potential benefits. Additionally, framing climate action in positive terms, such as highlighting the joy and satisfaction of contributing to a sustainable future, can help motivate behavior change. By addressing our affective forecasting bias and using positive framing, we can overcome psychological barriers and take meaningful steps towards mitigating climate change.
The role of government and collective action
While individual behavior change is important, relying solely on individual actions is insufficient to solve the climate crisis. Government intervention and collective action play a crucial role in addressing climate change effectively. By enacting policies that reduce reliance on fossil fuels and investing in renewable energy sources, governments can create systemic change and incentivize sustainable practices. Institutionalizing sustainable behaviors, such as employer-enforced retirement savings or accessible grocery stores with produce, can also have a significant impact. Rather than placing the burden solely on individuals, addressing climate change requires a comprehensive approach that combines individual efforts, government action, and systemic changes.
Humans are great at reacting to mortal danger... but only sometimes. Unfortunately, some risks to our safety and wellbeing don't set off alarm bells in our brains. Climate change falls into that category. Why is that?
Harvard psychologist Dan Gilbert explains how some dangers trigger us, and some don't. In discussion with Dr Laurie Santos, he also outlines ways in which we can be made to care more about threats to the planet and maybe react to them in more positive, happiness-inducing ways.
