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Communicating climate change through documentary film: imagery, emotion, and efficacy

Author

Listed:
  • Ashley Bieniek-Tobasco

    (George Washington University
    ICF)

  • Sabrina McCormick

    (George Washington University)

  • Rajiv N. Rimal

    (George Washington University)

  • Cherise B. Harrington

    (George Washington University
    North Carolina Central University)

  • Madelyn Shafer

    (George Washington University)

  • Hina Shaikh

    (George Washington University)

Abstract

We used qualitative in-depth interviews to evaluate the effects of a mass media climate change program on audiences’ efficacy beliefs, outcome expectations, emotional responses, and motivations and intentions to address climate change. We conducted in-depth interviews with 73 participants from five US cities and three political parties who had watched episodes of the documentary television series, Season Two of Years of Living Dangerously. Eligible participants completed an in-depth interview within 24 h of viewing a select episode. Data were transcribed and then coded and analyzed using QSR NVivo 10. Weak efficacy beliefs limited intentions to enact concrete behavioral change. Outcome expectations, national-level actions, imagery, and emotional responses to stories played an important role in these processes. Explicit information about expected outcomes of various actions, and specifically successes, should be provided in order to boost efficacy and incentivize behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Ashley Bieniek-Tobasco & Sabrina McCormick & Rajiv N. Rimal & Cherise B. Harrington & Madelyn Shafer & Hina Shaikh, 2019. "Communicating climate change through documentary film: imagery, emotion, and efficacy," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 154(1), pages 1-18, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:climat:v:154:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1007_s10584-019-02408-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s10584-019-02408-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ajzen, Icek, 1991. "The theory of planned behavior," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 50(2), pages 179-211, December.
    2. Connie Roser-Renouf & Edward Maibach & Anthony Leiserowitz & Xiaoquan Zhao, 2014. "The genesis of climate change activism: from key beliefs to political action," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 125(2), pages 163-178, July.
    3. Jacobsen, Grant D., 2011. "The Al Gore effect: An Inconvenient Truth and voluntary carbon offsets," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 61(1), pages 67-78, January.
    4. Maxwell T. Boykoff and J. Timmons Roberts, 2007. "Media Coverage of Climate Change: Current Trends, Strengths, Weaknesses," Human Development Occasional Papers (1992-2007) HDOCPA-2007-03, Human Development Report Office (HDRO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
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    Cited by:

    1. Philippe Odou & Marie Schill, 2020. "How anticipated emotions shape behavioral intentions to fight climate change," Post-Print hal-02929920, HAL.
    2. Elise Talgorn & Helle Ullerup, 2023. "Invoking ‘Empathy for the Planet’ through Participatory Ecological Storytelling: From Human-Centered to Planet-Centered Design," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-31, May.
    3. Adebanke L. Adebayo & Rochelle Davidson Mhonde & Nathaniel DeNicola & Edward Maibach, 2020. "The Effectiveness of Narrative Versus Didactic Information Formats on Pregnant Women’s Knowledge, Risk Perception, Self-Efficacy, and Information Seeking Related to Climate Change Health Risks," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-13, September.
    4. K.C. Busch & Regina Ayala Chávez, 2022. "Adolescent framings of climate change, psychological distancing, and implications for climate change concern and behavior," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 171(3), pages 1-19, April.
    5. Yétindranathsingh Dhunnoo & Adrian Carter & Daniel O’Hare & James Birt & Martin Skitmore, 2023. "Improving Climate Change Awareness through Immersive Virtual Reality Communication: A Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-14, August.
    6. Lauren Feldman & P. Sol Hart, 2021. "Upping the ante? The effects of “emergency” and “crisis” framing in climate change news," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 169(1), pages 1-20, November.
    7. Odou, Philippe & Schill, Marie, 2020. "How anticipated emotions shape behavioral intentions to fight climate change," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 243-253.

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