Motivation to Act and Social Connection Sustain Everyday Climate Change Conversations
Abstract
Public concern about climate change is high, yet most Americans rarely talk about it. This project investigated the social, cognitive, and emotional factors that motivate or prevent climate change conversations in everyday life. Across three studies using cross-sectional surveys (N = 2,804), a qualitative elicitation survey (N = 202), and longitudinal daily diary data (N = 1,487), we found that most people want to talk more about climate change but often refrain due to anticipated conflict, emotional discomfort, and perceived goal misalignment. When conversations occurred in daily life, however, they were generally pleasant and likely to be sustained when people focused on motivation to act and emotional closeness. Notably, experiences of conflict, negative emotions, and dismissal were relatively infrequent and did not reduce willingness to re-engage, contrary to common expectations. Together, these findings point to incorrect expectations about the social and emotional consequences of climate change conversations as barriers to dialogue.
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