Mapping prescriptive beliefs on seventh generation stewardship and increasing the temporal scope of intergenerational...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Ethics
• Political Science

Background:

• Intergenerational stewardship is increasingly important due to climate change and pandemics.
• Historical philosophies, like the Haudenosaunee's seventh generation principle, emphasize long-term thinking.
• Current moral frameworks may not adequately consider future generations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To map public beliefs about how many future generations should be considered in decision-making.
• To assess the temporal depth of moral obligation and concern for future welfare.
• To investigate methods for expanding the temporal horizon of intergenerational concern.

Main Methods:

• Five preregistered studies were conducted with 3,876 American participants recruited via Prolific.
• Surveys precisely mapped prescriptive beliefs on intergenerational considerations.
• Interventions targeted the perceived interconnectedness of people across time.

Main Results:

• The study precisely mapped public beliefs regarding the number of future generations individuals and governments consider.
• It identified individual variations in intergenerational obligation and concern.
• Interventions successfully expanded the temporal horizon of intergenerational concern, reducing discounting.

Conclusions:

• Public consideration of future generations is often limited.
• Interventions can effectively broaden the temporal scope of moral concern.
• Expanding intergenerational concern is crucial for addressing long-term global challenges.