Coping with climate emotions: An experiment investigating the impact of emotion regulation on defensiveness, collective action intentions and policy support [Author Accepted Manuscript]

Abstract

Based on self-determination theory, emotion regulation, and coping research, we argue that individuals employ different emotion regulation/emotion-focused coping strategies to handle threatening information about climate change, which are differently associated with the satisfaction of psychological needs and have different consequences for climate action. To test the causal effects of two emotion regulation strategies, we conducted a pre-registered experiment with a convenience sample in Germany (N = 336). Participants received instructions for emotional integration (i.e., observing and understanding their own emotions), emotional distancing (i.e., distancing themselves from their own emotions), or no instruction before they watched a video about the detrimental consequences of climate change. Participants in the emotional distancing condition reported less intense unpleasant emotions while watching the video and reported less support for increasing prices of climate-damaging products and tightening environmental requirements for products, technologies, and services compared to participants in the emotional integration or control conditions. These findings support the claim that emotional distancing is a relevant factor that prevents more consistent climate policies. Training community members in emotional integration may mitigate this effect.