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Personality traits and climate skepticism: evidence from Canada

Author

Listed:
  • Scott Pruysers

    (Dalhousie University)

  • Tobias Schminke

    (Dalhousie University)

  • Gala Palavicini

    (Dalhousie University)

Abstract

Despite widespread scientific consensus regarding the evidence for climate change and its effects, some members of the general public remain skeptical (i.e., believe that climate change is exaggerated, due to natural variation in the climate, etc.). While much research has considered the demographic and political correlates of climate skepticism, less work has considered the psychological roots, including individual differences in personality. Drawing on a large sample of voting-aged Canadians (N = 1725), we explore the relationship between personality (both general and antagonistic traits) and climate skepticism. Even when accounting for a variety of known correlates, our results reveal a consistent role for personality: antagonistic traits such as narcissism and psychopathy are related to increased levels of skepticism, whereas prosocial traits such as agreeableness and honesty-humility are related to lower levels of skepticism. In fact, the results of a dominance analysis reveal that the trait of openness is the second most predictor in the entire model, trailing left–right ideology in its explanatory power. By highlighting the psychological roots, our results provide insight into why climate skepticism is so persistent. The results further suggest that combatting climate skepticism will be a difficult task that requires strategies that take individual differences in personality into account.

Suggested Citation

  • Scott Pruysers & Tobias Schminke & Gala Palavicini, 2025. "Personality traits and climate skepticism: evidence from Canada," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 178(3), pages 1-18, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:climat:v:178:y:2025:i:3:d:10.1007_s10584-025-03896-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s10584-025-03896-6
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