The Psychology of Collective Climate Action

Table of Contents Foreword Preface Climate courage and the aims of this book Who this book is for The story behind this book Defining “we” A quick bit about Wandelwerk Our Author Team Two core questions Building a bridge between science and practice Critically reflecting on findings What you will and will not find in this book References Preface Acknowledgements Chapter 1: Overview of the Psychological Model Defining collective climate action Examples of collective climate action Differentiating between collective and private climate action The Social Identity Model of Collective Action The structure of this book References Chapter 1 Part 1: Motivating for collective climate action Chapter 2: Social Identification Defining social identification From social identification to collective climate action How we can strengthen identification with climate action groups Focus 1: Highlighting the connection to climate action groups Focus 1 – Strategy 1: Identifying common fates and traits Focus 1 – Strategy 2: Linking with pre-existing social identities Focus 1 – Strategy 3: Redefining group norms Focus 1 – Strategy 4: Creating a shared group identity Focus 2: Creating climate action groups that meet people’s needs Focus 2 – Strategy 1: Fostering a sense of belonging Focus 2 – Strategy 2: Making members feel good about the group Focus 2 – Strategy 3: Helping to establish clear meaning and purpose Focus 2 – Strategy 4: Establishing a sense of control Discovering your social identification References Chapter 2 Chapter 3: Moral Beliefs and Emotions Defining moral beliefs Core values From moral beliefs and emotions to collective climate action Guilt Anger How we can use moral beliefs and emotions as tools for effecting collective climate action Focus 1: Create anger-eliciting situations Focus 1 – Strategy 1: Drawing attention to injustice and who’s responsible for it Focus 1 – Strategy 2: Communicating others’ outrage Focus 2: Using moral beliefs and anger to build external support Focus 2 – Strategy 1: Narrowing the moral-empathy gap with direct contact Focus 2 – Strategy 2: Challenging, not threatening others’ self-image Focus 2 – Strategy 3: Balancing public perception and media attention in the activist’s dilemma Focus 2 – Strategy 4: Considering the impacts of a radical flank Focus 2 – Strategy 5: Using constructive disruption to reduce resistance to climate goals Focus 2 – Strategy 6: Ensuring that a climate action is seen as legitimate, relatable, and effective Discovering your value basis References Chapter 3 Chapter 4: Framing Climate Action Defining framing Challenging existing frames How we can create frames for collective climate action Considering target audiences in framing decisions References Chapter 4 Chapter 5: Efficacy Beliefs Defining efficacy beliefs Collective efficacy Participative efficacy From efficacy beliefs to collective climate action Building efficacy beliefs Maintaining efficacy beliefs How we can foster efficacy beliefs Focus 1: Accentuating positive changes Focus 1 – Strategy 1: Highlighting success and efficacy Focus 1 – Strategy 2: Emphasizing that many others are involved Focus 1 – Strategy 3: Eliciting positive feelings and hope Focus 1 – Strategy 4: Envisioning a better socio-ecological future Focus 2: Designing group contexts that nurture efficacy Focus 2 – Strategy 1: Considering diverse motivations and group sizes Focus 2 – Strategy 2: Choosing goals and actions wisely Focus 2 – Strategy 3: Highlighting and building skills Focus 2 – Strategy 4: Distributing roles Discovering your efficacy beliefs References Chapter 5 Chapter 6: Psychological Effects of Collective Climate Action Action first, motivation second Effects of an action’s success or failure Strategies for coping with failure Social strategies (a social and shared mindset) Reframing strategies (another perspective) Distancing strategies (another focus) Changing strategies (another action) The spillover effect between private behaviors and collective action References Chapter 6 Chapter 7: Summary of the Model Applying the pillars of motivation to drive collective climate action References Chapter 7 Part 2: Cultivating resilient and effective collective climate action Chapter 8: Resilient Collective Action and Activist Burnout Don’t underestimate activist burnout Defining activist burnout Causes of activist burnout Personal and psychological factors Group norms fueling burnout Problems within groups kindling burnout Building resilient climate action groups Group-focused strategies for resilient collective climate action Individual-focused strategies for resilient collective climate action Group exercise for assessing activist burnout References Chapter 8 Chapter 9: Socio-ecological Transformation Looking at the bigger picture Defining socio-ecological transformation The Multi-Level Perspective Three levels of change The theory of change for the Multi-Level Perspective The Social Tipping Point Concept The theory of change for the Social Tipping Points The Three Strategies of Transformation Circumstances of transformation The theory of change for the Three Strategies of Transformation The Movement Action Plan Four roles within social change The theory of change for the Movement Action Plan Take-aways Common features of theories of change Your take on socio-ecological change References Chapter 9 Chapter 10: Effective Goals for Climate Groups Picking your battles: goals and target groups Target group descriptions Strategies for achieving target group goals How to achieve these goals using SOCIAL IDENTITY (Chapter 2) How to achieve these goals using MORAL BELIEFS (Chapter 3) How to achieve these goals using FRAMING (Chapter 4) How to achieve these goals using EFFICACY BELIEFS (Chapter 5) How to achieve these goals using COLLECTIVE ACTION (Chapter 6) How to achieve these goals using RESILIENCE STRATEGIES (Chapter 8) Defining your goals and strategies References Chapter 10 Chapter 11: Conclusion, Recommendations, and Further Ideas Final Words Recommended books and videos to explore Research areas in need of addressing References Chapter 11 Appendix: Overview of Research Designs Quantitative research Qualitative research Individual experiences References Appendix