Posted on 04/26/2016 7:05:42 AM PDT by Patriotic1
Conservatives' attitudes toward climate change and other environmental concerns shift when the issues are reframed in terms more closely aligned with their values, a new study from Oregon State University indicates.
Researchers found that people who identified as conservative were more likely to support "pro-environmental" ideals when the issues were framed as matters of obeying authority, defending the purity of nature and demonstrating patriotism.
The study underscores the ways in which discussions of important topics are informed by a person's moral and ideological perspective, said the study's lead author, Christopher Wolsko, an assistant professor of psychology at OSU-Cascades.
"We think we're just discussing issues, but we're discussing those issues through particular cultural values that we normally take for granted," Wolsko said. "If you re-frame issues to be more inclusive of those diverse values, people's attitudes change."
The findings were published in the latest issue of the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. Co-authors are Hector Ariceaga and Jesse Seiden, who are alumni of OSU-Cascades.
Wolsko studies ecopsychology, a field that examines the relationship between humans and the natural world from both a psychological and ecological perspective. The goal of his latest research is to better understand the widespread political polarization occurring around environmental issues such as climate change.
"This political polarization has been a big issue, even in the current presidential campaign," Wolsko said. "Why is that? What, exactly, is going on psychologically?"
Moral foundations theory suggests that liberals and conservatives respond differently to broad moral categories. Liberals respond more favorably to moral issues involving harm and care, or fairness and justice, and conservatives respond more favorably to issues framed by loyalty, authority and respect, and the purity and sanctity of human endeavors, Wolsko said.
In a series of experiments, the researchers tested how shifts in moral framing affected attitudes toward environmental issues such as climate change. They reframed questions about conservation and climate change around ideals of patriotism, loyalty, authority and purity and paired them with imagery such as flags and bald eagles.
They found that reframing the issues around these moral foundations led to shifts in attitudes for conservatives, who were more likely to favor environmental concerns in that context. There was no noticeable shift in attitudes among liberals, which isn't a big surprise, Wolsko said.
Environmental issues are typically framed in ideological and moral terms that hold greater appeal for people with liberal views. Conservatives may not so much be rejecting environmental concerns, but rather the tone and tenor of the prevailing moral discourse around environmental issues, he said.
That does not mean people should reframe critical discourse to manipulate attitudes about environmental concerns, Wolsko said. Rather, the goal should be to find more balanced ways to talk about the issues in an effort to reduce the polarization that can occur.
"The classic move is to segment people along these ideological lines," he said. "But if we're more inclusive in our discourse, can we reduce the animosity and find more common ground?"
Future research should look at messaging that is considered more neutral and appeals to people with both liberal and conservative ideologies, Wolsko said.
"I'm really interested in the extent to which we can bring everyone together, to be more inclusive and affirm common values," he said. "Can we apply these lessons to the political and policy arenas, and ultimately reduce the vast political polarization we're experiencing right now?"
I'm throwing the BS flag on the play. I don't obey anyone who is an idiot.
It’s called lying, brainwashing and propaganda.
Truly spoken like a bunch of guys who have not set foot outside of the ivory tower for three or four decades.
Being Catholic, I place a high value on what comes from the Church in terms of faith and morals, and certain teachings. But that doesn't mean I don't sift through everything carefully because at the end of the day, I'm responsible before God.
Sure....
She also had my dad drive by a park where the hippies had just celebrated one of the first Earth Days. Those hippies did not have a mother like mine. The park was littered very badly and my mom pointed out how unmannerly those hippies were that they would leave such a mess.
These enviro-freaks professors are just trying to scientifically figure out how to make conservatives think like a bunch of stupid hippies.
The must always “frame” their arguments very strategically in order for them to seem palatable. Always.
Now I have an urge to burn some tires.
If only the climate change cult had spent this much time on actual science.
Perhaps conservatives respond to subjects like real pollution, as opposed to Al Gore inspired Global Warming hysterics.
NOT.
Did they show pictures to these R's and D's of the dead bald eagles, Osprey's, pelicans, hawks and owls, spotted some of them, at the base of their beloved windmills, surely not.
How abut the grown men who only knew the woods all their life being told at age 50, no more harvesting timber that is mean to "mother nature, so go to school, learn about computers it will be fun!!
As a conservative, I’ve become a terrible hippie - save the cod banks, oysters, etc.
But mostly so they’ll be there to exploit later...
Or, in the case of manatees and turtles, ‘cause they’re cute...
Couch environmentalism in those terms, and I might agree with you. “Save now so you can exploit later!”
This is exactly what hunting licenses do in many states. The license fees helps to preserve and promote the habitats of game animals in sufficient quantities to allow hunting.
There can be conservation without dictatorial control. Just figure out how it can profit your fellow man to do it.
I would love to see these experiments in all their details. I have little doubt that all the questions were framed in such a way as to get exactly the result the researchers were looking for. I’ve seen a lot of these politicized “psychology experiments” in recent years.
Funny how they never take that route, though.
I think the idea is completely foreign to them.
Climate Bullies Ping.
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