Cognitive Science Program

Development and psychometric evaluation of the Personal Growth Initiative Scale–II (2012)
Christine Robitschek, Matthew W Ashton, Cynthia C Spering, Nathaniel Geiger, Danielle Byers, G Christian Schotts ...
Journal of Counseling Psychology, 59 (2), 274

Abstract

The original Personal Growth Initiative Scale (PGIS; Robitschek, 1998) was unidimensional, despite theory identifying multiple components (eg, cognition and behavior) of personal growth initiative (PGI). The present research developed a multidimensional measure of the complex process of PGI, while retaining the brief and psychometrically sound properties of the original scale. Study 1 focused on scale development, including theoretical derivation of items, assessing factor structure, reducing number of items, and refining the scale length using samples of college students. Study 2 consisted of confirmatory factor analysis with 3 independent samples of college students and community members. Lastly, Study 3 assessed test–retest reliability over 1-, 2-, 4-, and 6-week periods and tests of concurrent and discriminant validity using samples of college students. The final measure, the Personal Growth Initiative Scale …

Climate of silence: Pluralistic ignorance as a barrier to climate change discussion (2016)
Nathaniel Geiger and Janet K Swim
Journal of Environmental Psychology, 47 79-90

Abstract

Despite the importance of interpersonal public communication about climate change, most citizens rarely discuss the topic. In two studies, we find that inaccurate perceptions of others' opinions (i.e. pluralistic ignorance) contribute to self-silencing among those concerned about climate change. Study 1 illustrates that those who are aware of others' concern about climate change report greater willingness to discuss the issue than those with inaccurate perceptions of others' opinions. Study 2 demonstrates that correcting pluralistic ignorance increases concerned participants' willingness to discuss climate change. In both studies, pluralistic ignorance leads to self-silencing because perceptions that others do not share one's opinion are associated with expecting to be perceived as less competent in a conversation about climate change. In contrast to previous research on confronting prejudice, in the present research …

Creating a climate for change: Interventions, efficacy and public discussion about climate change (2017)
Nathaniel Geiger, Janet K Swim and John Fraser
Journal of Environmental Psychology, 51 104-116

Abstract

Interpersonal discussions about climate change among the public are important for creating positive social change to addressing the issue, yet a majority of the public does not regularly discuss the topic. Previous correlational research connects avoidance of climate change discussions to low efficacy about these discussions. The present research tests whether a knowledge-based intervention which 1) uses evidence-based communication techniques to increase science knowledge and 2) highlights community-level solutions can promote public discussion through improving efficacy beliefs. A lab experiment (N = 173) with university students and a field quasi-experiment with two nationally representative samples of visitors to informal science learning centers (e.g., aquariums, N_a = 1068, N_b = 907) demonstrates that those that received a knowledge-based intervention (vs. those who do not receive this intervention …

Teaching the choir to sing: use of social science information to promote public discourse on climate change (2014)
Janet K Swim, John Fraser and Nathaniel Geiger
Journal of Land Use & Environmental Law, 91-117

Abstract

Reasons for lack of public engagement in climate change are reviewed with a particular focus on the lack of discourse about climate change. Discourse is important because it is through discussions that the public comes to understand climate change and it is a core component to the development of both laws and policies. In the case of climate change, a core challenge is to encourage public discussion grounded in scientific knowledge in order to develop publically acceptable laws and policies that are significant enough to address the scale and root causes of the problem. We review previous research, collect survey data to identify areas of knowledge where public education is most needed, and examine the role of climate change concern, perceived ability to discuss the issue, and social norms on the public's reluctance to talk about climate change. After discussing the public's knowledge and these …

From alarmed to dismissive of climate change: A single item assessment of individual differences in concern and issue involvement (2017)
Janet K Swim and Nathaniel Geiger
Environmental Communication, 568-586

Abstract

The present paper tests the validity of using a single-item individual difference measure of climate change concern derived from the “Six Americas” project’s descriptions of the US public’s concern about climate change. The “Six Americas” project identified six segments of the US population proposed to range from the most (i.e. Alarmed) to least Concerned (i.e. Dismissive). The order is also proposed to relate to issue involvement with those in the middle of the continuum least involved. Three studies support the reliability, construct validity, and predictive validity of self-categorization into the six segments as a single-item individual difference measure of climate change concern. Results support both a linear relation with concern about climate change and a curvilinear relation with issue involvement. These findings suggest that the single-item self-categorization measure developed for use in this manuscript is a valid …

Psychology and energy-use reduction policies (2014)
Janet K Swim, Nathaniel Geiger and Stephanie J Zawadzki
Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 1 (1), 180-188

Abstract

Local, state, and federal governments are continuing to design and pass programs and policies to decrease demand for energy. These programs and policies provide social, economic, and environmental benefits. Social and behavioral scientists can inform policymaking and evaluation because of their expertise in behavioral change. Specifically, policies will be more effective if they include a behavioral level analysis to help select behaviors, design behavioral change strategies that target appropriate motives and abilities, and attend to social and environmental contexts. After describing these principles, the article illustrates how they can inform the evaluation of labeling programs designed to encourage energy-efficient behaviors among consumers, manufacturers, and building owners.

Catalyzing public engagement with climate change through informal science learning centers (2017)
Nathaniel Geiger, Janet K Swim, John Fraser and Kate Flinner
Science Communication, 39 (2), 221-249

Abstract

Using the head, heart, and hands model, we examined a training program designed to catalyze national public engagement with climate change through informal science learning centers (e.g., aquariums, zoos). Survey data were collected from visitors (N = 7,285) observing 1,101 presentations at 117 U.S. institutions before and after presenters participated in communication training. Visitors who attended posttraining (vs. pretraining) presentations reported greater understanding of climate change (head), hope (heart), and intentions to engage in community action (hands). As hypothesized, results suggested these changes were due to an increase in presenters’ discussion of climate change and use of effective communication techniques.

Climate change education at nature‐based museums (2017)
Janet K Swim, Nathaniel Geiger, John Fraser and Nette Pletcher
Curator: The Museum Journal, 60 (1), 101-119

Abstract

The status of climate change education at nature‐based museums (i.e., zoos, aquariums and nature centers) was examined, with a particular focus on centers participating in a National Network for Ocean and Climate Change Interpretation (NNOCCI) leadership training program. Study 1 revealed that, relative to nature‐based museums that did not participate in the training, NNOCCI‐participating institutions provided resources for staff to work on the topic and professional development programs and were more likely than non‐participating museums to be comfortable with and provide climate change education programming. Study 2 confirms these results via visitor reports about the exhibits they observed. Study 2 also reveals that, relative to non‐visitors and visitors to non‐participating nature‐based museums, visitors to NNOCCI‐participating nature‐based museums were more knowledgeable about and …

The gendered nature of stereotypes about climate change opinion groups (2018)
Janet K Swim and Nathaniel Geiger
Group Processes and Intergroup Relations,

Abstract

We document the gendered nature and valence of stereotypes about each of the Six Americas climate change opinion groups that represent a continuum of climate change opinions from Dismissive to Alarmed. Results primarily supported predictions. First, the more groups were associated with strong concern about climate change, the more feminine they were perceived to be. Second, groups with strong concern or strong lack of concern were seen the most negatively. However, contrary to expectations, greater concern was also associated with more positive masculine traits. Combining effects, most perceived the Dismissive to have negative masculine traits and not to have positive feminine traits, those with intermediate opinions (especially, those who were Cautious and Concerned) most favorably, and the Alarmed to have both positive masculine and negative feminine traits. Ratings suggest that (a) the …

Everyone loves a success story: optimism inspires conservation engagement (2019)
Dominic McAfee, Zoë A Doubleday, Nathaniel Geiger and Sean D Connell
BioScience, 69 (4), 274-281

Abstract

In this era of unprecedented environmental change, optimism could help unite people to act. In the present article, we bring together insights from psychology, business, politics, and media to illustrate humanity's innate attraction to optimism and the influence it can yield in driving positive change. We advocate for greater use of optimism in the communication of conservation and provide practical steps to help conservation biologists use optimism more effectively. However, to avoid denialism and remain grounded in reality we also acknowledge the need for balance between optimism and pessimism. Such balance could not only enhance public engagement with pressing environmental issues but also encourage effective collaboration among science, government, public and industry sectors to address environmental issues.

Social construction of scientifically grounded climate change discussions (2018)
Janet K Swim, Nathaniel Geiger, Julie Sweetland and John Fraser
Academic Press. 65-93

Abstract

The present paper examines the role of conversations in improving public engagement in climate change, and discusses how to improve these conversations by grounding them in climate science and by using tools identified in empirical research on climate change messaging. We review empirical findings on how messages can be optimized to increase their “spreadability” (i.e. messages that are most likely to be understood, remembered, and repeated from one person to another) and influence engagement climate change action. After describing general communication strategies, we present a specific example of the development, teaching, and use of these messages among educators at informal science learning centers, and research evaluating the impact of this training on educators’ conversations with their social contacts (colleagues, friends and family). The results of this research indicate that, due to …

Psychological, Social, and Cultural Barriers to Communicating about Climate Change (2017)
Nathaniel Geiger, Brianna L. Middlewood and Janet K. Swim
Oxford University Press.

Abstract

PRINTED FROM the OXFORD RESEARCH ENCYCLOPEDIA, CLIMATE SCIENCE (oxfordre. com/climatescience).(c) Oxford University Press USA, 2019. All Rights Reserved. Personal use only; commercial use is strictly prohibited (for details see Privacy Policy and Legal Notice).

Gendered impressions of issue publics as predictors of climate activism (2018)
Nathaniel Geiger and Janet Kay Swim
Frontiers in Communication, 3 54

Abstract

The present work explores how gendered impressions of issue publics (i.e., those who are well informed about, and have strong opinions about, a given topic) can predict individuals’ interest in engaging in activism either consistent with the issue public’s position or diametrically opposed to its position. In two studies (Ns = 286, 245) using MTurk samples, we explore the predictors of pro-climate and anti-climate activism based on the impressions of the climate concerned (i.e., an issue public supporting action on climate change; Study 1) and the climate dismissive (i.e., an issue public opposing action on climate change; Study 2). We relied on two complementary theoretical perspectives to make predictions: a) gender role congruity theory, which suggests that the more perceivers ascribe gendered traits to issue publics that match the perceiver’s own gender, the more they will engage in behavior associated with that issue public , and b) social value of attributes which suggests that various components of femininity and masculinity may be universally valued (i.e., positive aspects of masculinity) or devalued (i.e., negative aspects of femininity) by society regardless of perceivers’ own gender. Predictions made by gender role congruity theory were not supported: men did not prefer engaging in activism when they perceived the relevant issue public to be more masculine and women did not tend to prefer engaging in activism when they perceived the relevant issue public to be more feminine. In contrast, results were consistent with social value of attributes predictions suggesting the importance of positive components of masculine impressions of issue …

Spread the Green Word: A Social Community Perspective Into Environmentally Sustainable Behavior (2019)
Nathaniel Geiger, Janet K Swim and Leland Glenna
Environment and Behavior, 51 (5), 561-589

Abstract

Engagement in proenvironmental behavior can be understood in part by considering how individuals operate as members of social communities and are influenced by these communities. In the present work, we use social network analysis to explore how social network structure predicts proenvironmental behavior. We consider three types of behaviors—(a) private, (b) public nonorganizational, and (c) organizational behaviors—and consider the potential for (i) behavioral diffusion and (ii) two types of opinion leader influence for each of these three behaviors within a religious social community. Results are consistent with patterns indicating diffusion for public nonorganizational and organizational, but not private behaviors. In contrast, being well connected with many opinion leaders to whom one would go for advice (but not simply being friends with these individuals) is associated with greater engagement in all …

Observing environmental destruction stimulates neural activation in networks associated with empathic responses (2017)
Nathaniel Geiger, Caitlin R Bowman, Tracy L Clouthier, Anthony J Nelson and Reginald B Adams
Social Justice Research, 30 (4), 300-322

Abstract

The negative impacts of environmental disruption disproportionately affect marginalized and underprivileged communities; thus, the degree to which society is complicit in allowing unchecked environmental destruction to occur has important social justice applications. Although decades of research have sought to understand factors which determine acceptance of environmental destruction, most of this research has been based on self-report surveys. In the present work, we used neuroimaging techniques to examine the neural correlates of environmental concern. To do this, we compared responses to observing suffering dogs with responses to observing suffering ecosystems. Our results extend previous findings which had shown largely overlapping neural response patterns to observing animal and human suffering. Critically, we found activation in regions previously identified as active in empathy …