THE INDIVIDUAL'S CLIMATE DENIAL:
SOCIETAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL INFLUENCES
The layperson understands climate change through lens tinted by their personal values and beliefs, life experiences, emotions, and interpretation of scientific information which is often framed to further certain stakeholders' social, political and economical interests.
On top of that, the individual is vulnerable to cognitive biases.
Evidently, it is difficult for a layperson to be objective about climate change.
Some may choose to deny climate change or the climate consensus.
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In this section, you will find some answers to:
(1) What are some reasons causing the average person to deny climate change?
(2) What are the consequences of individuals' denial of climate change?
EXTRINSIC INFLUENCES ON INDIVIDUALS' CLIMATE CHANGE DENIAL
Source: Free Wix Images
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As explained in "Denial in The Media", the information that the layperson has about climate change is often received through the media.
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Thus, if the media individuals tune into are biased to climate change denial, they are more than likely to doubt that climate change is real and caused by humans.
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The media can shape how the public perceives and judges the complex policy debates on climate change.​​
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Source: Anaya Katlego on Unsplash
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Religious beliefs can sometimes fuel climate change denial.
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Some Christians may exhibit denial of the climate change as they are more likely to believe in a God that intervenes in human affairs, one of the reasons which causes them to:
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See themselves as having less agency and personal responsibility for mitigating climate change.
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Be less supportive of pro-climate policies
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Be more likely to deny climate science, such as information on human beings' significant contribution to worsening climate change​
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