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Who's Interested in Global Warming?
Mark Fenton-O'Creevy1, Adrian Furnham2
1Open University Business School, Milton Keynes, UK.
Scandinavian Journal of Psychology
|July 21, 2025
Summary
Optimism and education positively influence attitudes toward global warming (GW). However, right-wing political orientation and competitiveness negatively impact GW views, with optimism
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Environmental Science
- Political Science
Background:
- Attitudes toward global warming (GW) are influenced by demographics, personality, and political orientation.
- Dispositional optimism may foster GW seriousness by encouraging active coping and reducing anxiety-driven avoidance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate correlates of attitude toward global warming.
- To examine the interactive effect of optimism and political orientation on GW attitude.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a dataset of 819 adult respondents.
- Employed correlation and regression analyses.
- Applied moderated regression to test for interaction effects.
Main Results:
- Right-wing political orientation and competitiveness were inversely associated with GW attitude.
- Higher education and optimism were positively associated with GW attitude.
- Optimism's positive effect on GW attitude was stronger for those with a more right-wing political orientation.
Conclusions:
- Findings suggest tailored communication strategies for climate change are needed for different demographic and political groups.
- Optimism and political orientation interact to shape GW attitudes.
- Further research should explore these complex relationships and communication efficacy.
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