From individual to collective climate emotions and actions: a review

Abstract

This review summarizes the current state-of-the-art of our knowledge about group-based and collective emotions and their link to collective climate action. I first review the mechanisms underlying collective emotional phenomena, followed by a discussion of the role of emotions in psychological theories of collective action. Then, I survey the empirical literature on the link between emotions and collective climate action, including laboratory and online research as well as field studies with participants of real-world collective action. The evidence illustrates how group-based and collective emotions can override self-interested utility calculations and perceptions of individual powerlessness, help spread information about climate change, and increase group cohesion and identification, thus motivating collective climate action from policy support to participation in mass demonstrations and civil disobedience movements. Emotions also can reduce willingness to act, induce complacency, and emphasize and reinforce existing group divisions on the topic of climate change. To conclude, I discuss limitations and avenues for future research.