Changing the Climate on Climate Change
A team of scientists highlight evidence-based “best practice” insights that stand to improve public policy and decision making on climate change. Visit Page
New research shows that people post more on social media when bad weather hits, sometimes even more than during large social events in the United States. Visit Page
Podcast: Can environmentally friendly actions boost personal well-being? Tune in to discover how a sustainable lifestyle offers profound benefits. Visit Page
Özge Gürcanlı Fischer-Baum discusses the need for supportive policies to elevate the power of science and to educate the public about climate change. Visit Page
Podcast: Does our geographical location shape our thinking? Does water access have an effect on our decision-making habits? Under the Cortex hosts Dr. Hamid Harati and Thomas Talhelm, who explore how our ecological environment can shape our decision-making skills. Visit Page
Over generations, cultures including those in Yazd, Iran, develop customs, habits, and values that are adapted to water scarcity. Visit Page
An interdisciplinary team of researchers reports on how social norms can be harnessed to bring about collective climate action and policy change. Visit Page
Assistant professor at Singapore Management University Kimin Eom discusses his research into prosociality, maintaining morale, and helping others build on their successes. Visit Page
Achieving almost any of the world’s major climate interventions will require collective action. Stories are among the most universal, scalable approaches to convincing others to embrace these collective efforts. Visit Page
In recognition of Earth Day 2022, we have collected and summarized flash talks that discuss the effects of nature-assisted rehabilitation on mental health, the risks of air pollution exposure during childhood, the motivations behind climate-related discussions, and more. Visit Page
As of December 2021, a record 82.4 million people have been forced to flee their homes to escape war, violence, or persecution. Here’s a look at some recent research (2017–2021) on refugee integration and well-being. Visit Page
What happens after, during, and before natural disasters. Visit Page
Previews of research on going green by early-career psychological scientists. Visit Page
Harnessing personalities and perspectives to create more sustainable societies. Visit Page
Our willingness to engage in proenvironmental activities reflects how we identify as a part of our social and political ecosystems, as well as how we envision our relationship with science itself. Visit Page
Explaining the meaning of “scientific consensus” may counter false beliefs about the safety of genetically modified foods. This same approach, however, is less effective in convincing skeptics that climate change is real and caused by humans. Visit Page
A mix of behavioral research, economic studies, and time-series data portend some unsettling effects of climate change on human social interactions. Visit Page
Hurricanes and other traumatic weather events may have the power to shift people’s instincts about the need for policies that address the threats of climate change, a study indicates. Visit Page
Prompting people to think about the legacy they want to leave for future generations can boost their desire and intention to take action on climate change. Visit Page
People from opposing political parties may agree on the existence and causes of climate change more than they think, a study shows. Visit Page
Results from three studies show that people who thought the current day was warmer than usual were more likely to believe in and feel concern about global warming than those who thought the day was unusually cold. Visit Page
Engaging in pro-environmental behavior can trigger spillover effects, creating a ripple of positive changes in individuals and their communities. Visit Page
Researchers find that one strong way to encourage environmentally-friendly behavior is to emphasize the long life expectancy of a nation, and not necessarily its imminent downfall. Visit Page
The specific cultural values of a country may determine whether concern about environmental issues actually leads individuals to engage in environmentally friendly behaviors. Visit Page
A study of mothers and their children shows that children carry the influence of their mothers' environmental behaviors into early adulthood. Visit Page
Humans' impact on the environment is one of the most pressing social issues today, and it's time to include it in psychology courses, says APS Fellow Barbara Malt. Visit Page
Norman D Henderson Professor of Psychology and Environmental Studies at Oberlin College Cindy Frantz discusses her research into humans' relationship with the natural world, promoting sustainability, and developing strategies that can help generate support to addressing climate change. Visit Page
Companies often put a personal face on products to connect with consumers. The same idea may also work for social causes, like recycling and energy conservation, according to a series of studies. Visit Page
The best way to encourage environmentally-friendly behavior may be to focus on the changes that are already happening. Visit Page
A promising new study shows that a simple behavioral intervention for bus drivers may go a long way towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Visit Page
Findings from a series of studies show that people tend to believe others will come around to their point of view over time, a trend that holds across various contexts and cultures. Visit Page
Psychological science examines our cognitive, emotional, and behavioral responses to a changing climate. Visit Page
Previews of relevant research by students and early-career scientists. Visit Page
Scientists and environmental advocates may have more success convincing people about the dangers of global warming if they communicate those risks in less apocalyptic ways, research suggests. Visit Page
Humans and other mammals aren’t the only entities capable of adapting to their environment—schools of fish, robots, and even our genes can learn new behaviors. Visit Page
The researchers used a ‘stage-of-change’ model originally designed as a smoking cessation intervention. Visit Page
The National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine released a consensus study report in August detailing strategies for reducing food waste at the consumer level. Visit Page
Science examines how physical surroundings affect children’s development. Visit Page
A team of scientists highlight evidence-based “best practice” insights that stand to improve public policy and decision making on climate change. Visit Page
To identify gaps in knowledge and develop priorities in this research area, NIH has issued a request for information from the external community. Visit Page
No one likes a backseat driver, but motorists may be more amenable to suggestions when support systems take the time to explain recommendations. Visit Page
A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine concludes that many behavioral and social science factors are at play in the weather enterprise. Visit Page
From pandemics to poverty, from mental illness to science denial, sweeping public health challenges have engulfed the world. Psychological science could improve outcomes for millions. Visit Page
Data from archival and experimental studies indicate that exposure to air pollution, either physically or mentally, is linked with unethical behavior such as crime and cheating. Visit Page
Even in modern environments with easy access to water, cultural responses shaped by historical water scarcity still influence individuals’ decision-making processes. Visit Page
Can a human-machine interface encourage drivers to engage in more eco-friendly behaviors behind the wheel? Visit Page
A recent behavioral intervention in the UK convinced up to 50% of drivers to switch off their idling engines, drastically reducing pollution and noise. Visit Page
Hot weather seems to amplify people’s responses to provocation, ultimately increasing rates of aggressive behavior and violence. Visit Page
From our homes and neighborhoods to the world beyond, the environment and human behavior are mutually and inextricably dependent on each other. These five articles investigate. Visit Page
The National Institute on Aging (NIA) has announced its special interest on integrative research studying the effects that extreme weather has on aging human populations. Visit Page
This social scientist uses research on morality and sociocultural influences to improve natural resource management. Visit Page
How does weather, both ordinary and extreme, affect decision-making, behavior, and emotions? Visit Page
Wired UK: The weather doesn’t just determine if we should be wearing a thick coat or not — it can have profound effects on the way we behave. You’re warmer and colder towards people depending Visit Page
Fast Company: Any time the weather is extreme, people on either side of the climate change debate will use it to prove the other side is wrong. If it’s cold in summer, climate change nonbelievers Visit Page
U.S. News & World Report: Baseball pitchers intentionally “bean” more batters in retaliation during hot weather, finds a new study. Researchers analyzed data from more than 57,000 Major League baseball games from 1952 through 2009 Visit Page
When it comes to our relationship to the environment, we have a lot to feel guilty about. That has led many environmental organizations to leverage that uncomfortable feeling. Don’t recycle that bottle, and it’ll probably Visit Page
TIME: A study recently published in Psychological Science suggests that daily weather dictates climate change opinion, indicating that “irrelevant environmental information, such as the current weather, can affect judgments.” Researchers from the Columbia University Center Visit Page
