Open AccessSecure human attachment can promote support for climate change mitigation
Author(s) -
Cláudia Nisa,
Jocelyn J. Bélanger,
Birga M. Schumpe,
Edyta Sasin
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2101046118
Subject(s) - safeguarding , empathy , climate change , feeling , attachment theory , place attachment , threatened species , psychology , social psychology , ecology , medicine , biology , nursing , habitat
Significance Attachment theory focuses on the primal form of emotional bonding between humans. Attachment is conceptualized as an innate behavioral system aimed at safeguarding against potential threats by assuring proximity to caring and supportive others. When individuals feel securely attached (thus feeling less threatened in most situations), the activation of the caregiving behavioral system (concern for others) is facilitated. With this research, we show that priming attachment security influences how much people care about and accept climate change via an increased empathy for humanity. Furthermore, we demonstrate that this activation bypasses the resistance of politically conservative individuals to mitigate climate change. Overall, we show that attachment security–based stimuli can inform intervention and policymaking strategies to help fight climate change.