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Actively distancing from climate radicals improves public support for moderate climate activists
Jana K Köhler1, Leonie Fian2,3, Mathew P White4,5
1Environmental Psychology, Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. jana.katharina.koehler@univie.ac.at.
Communications Psychology
|February 17, 2026
Summary
The presence of radical climate activists can boost support for moderate groups, but only if the moderate groups distance themselves from the radicals. This strategy enhances public perception of moderate climate action.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Psychology
- Social Movement Studies
- Political Communication
Background:
- Climate activism encompasses a spectrum of tactics, from peaceful marches to vandalism.
- The impact of a 'radical flank' (extreme activist groups) on public support for moderate 'centre' climate groups remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how the presence of a radical flank influences public support for moderate climate activist groups.
- To examine the mediating role of distancing strategies employed by moderate groups.
Main Methods:
- A pre-registered experiment involving 1407 representative Austrian adults.
- Participants responded to hypothetical climate protest scenarios involving both moderate and radical activist groups.
- Path analysis was used to test a moderated serial mediation model.
Main Results:
- The presence of a radical flank increased support for a centre climate activist group.
- This effect was contingent on the centre group actively distancing themselves from the radicals' actions.
- Distancing led to greater support by making the centre group appear less radical and increasing respondent identification.
Conclusions:
- Public support for moderate climate activism can be enhanced by the presence of a radical flank, provided moderate groups strategically distance themselves.
- This distancing strategy appears effective by differentiating moderate groups from extreme elements and fostering greater public identification.
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