An interdisciplinary team of researchers reports on how social norms can be harnessed to bring about collective climate action and policy change.
In recognition of Earth Day 2022, we have collected and summarized flash talks that discuss the effects of nature-assisted rehabilitation on mental health, the risks of air pollution exposure during childhood, the motivations behind climate-related discussions, and more.
As of December 2021, a record 82.4 million people have been forced to flee their homes to escape war, violence, or persecution. Here’s a look at some recent research (2017–2021) on refugee integration and well-being.
What happens after, during, and before natural disasters.
Previews of research on going green by early-career psychological scientists.
Harnessing personalities and perspectives to create more sustainable societies.
Our willingness to engage in proenvironmental activities reflects how we identify as a part of our social and political ecosystems, as well as how we envision our relationship with science itself.
Explaining the meaning of “scientific consensus” may counter false beliefs about the safety of genetically modified foods. This same approach, however, is less effective in convincing skeptics that climate change is real and caused by humans.
A mix of behavioral research, economic studies, and time-series data portend some unsettling effects of climate change on human social interactions.
Hurricanes and other traumatic weather events may have the power to shift people’s instincts about the need for policies that address the threats of climate change, a study indicates.
Prompting people to think about the legacy they want to leave for future generations can boost their desire and intention to take action on climate change.
People from opposing political parties may agree on the existence and causes of climate change more than they think, a study shows.
Results from three studies show that people who thought the current day was warmer than usual were more likely to believe in and feel concern about global warming than those who thought the day was unusually cold.
Researchers find that one strong way to encourage environmentally-friendly behavior is to emphasize the long life expectancy of a nation, and not necessarily its imminent downfall.
The specific cultural values of a country may determine whether concern about environmental issues actually leads individuals to engage in environmentally friendly behaviors.
A study of mothers and their children shows that children carry the influence of their mothers' environmental behaviors into early adulthood.
Humans' impact on the environment is one of the most pressing social issues today, and it's time to include it in psychology courses, says APS Fellow Barbara Malt.
Companies often put a personal face on products to connect with consumers. The same idea may also work for social causes, like recycling and energy conservation, according to a series of studies.
The best way to encourage environmentally-friendly behavior may be to focus on the changes that are already happening.
A promising new study shows that a simple behavioral intervention for bus drivers may go a long way towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Findings from a series of studies show that people tend to believe others will come around to their point of view over time, a trend that holds across various contexts and cultures.
Scientists and environmental advocates may have more success convincing people about the dangers of global warming if they communicate those risks in less apocalyptic ways, research suggests.
Humans and other mammals aren’t the only entities capable of adapting to their environment—schools of fish, robots, and even our genes can learn new behaviors.
The researchers used a ‘stage-of-change’ model originally designed as a smoking cessation intervention.
The National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine released a consensus study report in August detailing strategies for reducing food waste at the consumer level.
Science examines how physical surroundings affect children’s development.
A team of scientists highlight evidence-based “best practice” insights that stand to improve public policy and decision making on climate change.
To identify gaps in knowledge and develop priorities in this research area, NIH has issued a request for information from the external community.
No one likes a backseat driver, but motorists may be more amenable to suggestions when support systems take the time to explain recommendations.
A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine concludes that many behavioral and social science factors are at play in the weather enterprise.
Data from archival and experimental studies indicate that exposure to air pollution, either physically or mentally, is linked with unethical behavior such as crime and cheating.
Can a human-machine interface encourage drivers to engage in more eco-friendly behaviors behind the wheel?
A recent behavioral intervention in the UK convinced up to 50% of drivers to switch off their idling engines, drastically reducing pollution and noise.
Hot weather seems to amplify people’s responses to provocation, ultimately increasing rates of aggressive behavior and violence.
From our homes and neighborhoods to the world beyond, the environment and human behavior are mutually and inextricably dependent on each other. These five articles investigate.
The National Institute on Aging (NIA) has announced its special interest on integrative research studying the effects that extreme weather has on aging human populations.
This social scientist uses research on morality and sociocultural influences to improve natural resource management.
How does weather, both ordinary and extreme, affect decision-making, behavior, and emotions?
Wired UK: The weather doesn’t just determine if we should be wearing a thick coat or not — it can have profound effects on the way we behave. You’re warmer and colder towards people depending
Fast Company: Any time the weather is extreme, people on either side of the climate change debate will use it to prove the other side is wrong. If it’s cold in summer, climate change nonbelievers
U.S. News & World Report: Baseball pitchers intentionally “bean” more batters in retaliation during hot weather, finds a new study. Researchers analyzed data from more than 57,000 Major League baseball games from 1952 through 2009
When it comes to our relationship to the environment, we have a lot to feel guilty about. That has led many environmental organizations to leverage that uncomfortable feeling. Don’t recycle that bottle, and it’ll probably
TIME: A study recently published in Psychological Science suggests that daily weather dictates climate change opinion, indicating that “irrelevant environmental information, such as the current weather, can affect judgments.” Researchers from the Columbia University Center
