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Changing how you look at climate change: attention bias modification increases attention to climate change

Author

Listed:
  • Joshua M. Carlson

    (Northern Michigan University)

  • Madeline Voltz

    (Northern Michigan University)

  • John Foley

    (Northern Michigan University)

  • Lisa Gentry

    (Northern Michigan University)

  • Lin Fang

    (Northern Michigan University)

Abstract

Mitigating the negative impacts of anthropogenic climate change is among the most serious and pressing challenges facing the global community. Despite the severity of the issue, there seems to be a lack of attention paid to climate change in our daily lives. Yet, climate change-related information can capture observers’ attention, and when attention is drawn to a particular environmental risk, the perceived severity of this attended risk is enhanced. The question then is whether attention to climate change-related information can be modified or enhanced. Here, we report the results of two experiments using single-session attention bias modification training procedures designed to increase attentional focus on climate change-related information. In Experiment 1, attention training to emotionally positive images of climate change (e.g., potential solutions such as windmills and solar panels) increased attention to these images, but not emotionally negative images of climate change (e.g., air pollution, natural disasters, and melting ice). In Experiment 2, this effect was replicated. In addition, Experiment 2 revealed that training to emotionally negative images of climate change increased attention to negative images of climate change, and there was a trend for this enhanced attention to generalize to positive images of climate change. Furthermore, attention training towards negative images of climate change enhanced self-reported levels of concern about climate change. Collectively, our results suggest that attention training can increase the allocation of attention to climate change-related information and, under certain training conditions, concern for climate change increases.

Suggested Citation

  • Joshua M. Carlson & Madeline Voltz & John Foley & Lisa Gentry & Lin Fang, 2022. "Changing how you look at climate change: attention bias modification increases attention to climate change," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 175(3), pages 1-18, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:climat:v:175:y:2022:i:3:d:10.1007_s10584-022-03471-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s10584-022-03471-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Melvyn Weibin Zhang & Jiang Bo Ying & Guo Song & Daniel S. S. Fung & Helen E. Smith, 2018. "Recent Advances in Attention Bias Modification for Substance Addictions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-8, April.
    2. Jennifer C. Whitman & Jiaying Zhao & Kevin H. Roberts & Rebecca M. Todd, 2018. "Political orientation and climate concern shape visual attention to climate change," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 147(3), pages 383-394, April.
    3. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/61ih2qtadc8g1894enmudd2f09 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Alexandre Heeren & Camille Mouguiama-Daouda & Alba Contreras, 2022. "On climate anxiety and the threat it may pose to daily life functioning and adaptation: a study among European and African French-speaking participants," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 173(1), pages 1-17, July.
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