IntroductionHow do people feel about global warming? We are told by

scientists and activists that, if we are to mitigate its worst

predicted consequences, we must act decisively and immediately.

The science of climate change tells us that global warming is

genuinely dangerous and statistically inevitable. It is also

immediate, it is happening now. Its effects have been evident for

many years and will become more severe in the coming decades.

Emotions are the prime motivators of action, without them we do

nothing. In popular discourse, emotions, particularly fear, play a

more prominent role. This presentation considers some of the

psychological effects of global warming in people, animals as well

as some studies that demonstrate it.

What is Global Warming?

“Global Warming’ is the expected slow, gradual warming of the lower layers of the Earth’s lower atmosphere by the slowly increasing concentrations of man-made greenhouse gases, primarily carbon dioxide, and to a lesser extent methane. These gases trap infrared radiation, which is the “heat radiation” that cools the Earth. (In order for the Earth to remain at a constant temperature, the Earth must lose as much energy through infrared radiation as it gains from the sun. This concept is called energy balance.) The burning of fossil fuels, mainly petroleum and coal, produces carbon dioxide as one of the by-products”(Spencer. R, 2007)

What is a Psychological effect?

psy·cho·log·i·cal - [sahy-kuh-loj-i-kuhl] –adjective

of, pertaining to, dealing with, or affecting the

mind, esp. as a function of awareness, feeling,

or motivation: psychological play; psychological

effect.

1. Certain level of concern and awareness: Apparent increases in global extreme continue to generate concern over this issue .

2. Pessimist and aggressive thoughts

3. Increase of anger

4. Increase a person willingness to hurt another person

5. Increase of violent crimes

6.International surveys demonstrate moderate to high perceived threat.

The threat level tend to be significantly less than those from other

environmental and social problems.

Global warming

Negative Psychological Effects

• “Some experts have drawn a direct correlation between rising temperatures and an increase in aggressive and violent behavior, including violent crime.”(Anderson, C., PhD, 2007)– An example of aggressive and violent behavior would be when a

group of “eco-terrorists” nearly destroyed car dealership in Maryland in 2003

– The next example is truly unbelievable. A group of eco-terrorists destroyed a housing complex in San Diego, which was easily worth a whopping $50 million. Which was incidentally considered to be “too luxurious and energy-consuming that same year.” (Anderson, C., PhD, 2007)

• sick over desperate scenarios of environmental catastrophe• Psychologists say eco-terrorism might be an extreme display of

“eco-anxiety,” the new buzz word in mental health: An increasing number of people are literally worrying themselves in their mind.

Studies have shown…

“In the 1990's the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

reported on two studies that examined the relation between

hotness of year and violent crime rate in the United States from

1950 to 1995. One study found that summer produced more violent

crime—murders and assaults—than the other seasons. If high

temperature was a direct cause of the summer effect, then years

with more hot days (days in which the maximum temperature is at

least 90F) would have somewhat larger increases in murder and

assault than years with fewer hot days. This prediction was

confirmed by the data.”(Anderson, C., PhD ,2007)

Eco-Anxiety Syndrome

• Is it possible to suffer from a sort of disorder due to the current stress of the environment?– Yes! – It is called the Eco-Anxiety

• It causes people to feel anxiety, depression, even insomnia.– Also known as Global Warming Stress Syndrome (GWSS)

• People sometimes think they have to make big changes in their life, when sometimes it’s the little things that might be what matters most. Such as recycling, turning off lights, unplugging electrical items and carpooling can go a long way.

• “Children can also suffer from anxiety over the planet. Experts suggest getting them involved in a recycling program or planting a garden.”(2008)

Some Symptoms of Eco-Anxiety• panic attacks

• loss of appetite• Irritability

• a "buzzing" under the skin — an eerie feeling that their cells are twitching• A sense of helplessness

• A belief that mankind causes every bad event• excessive hand-wringing

• frequent bowel movements

Treatments

• As of now the only specific treatment known is therapy. Though questionable, there is such a profession as eco-therapists.

• There is no cure for Eco-Anxiety, but anxiety of this type is most commonly caused by a misunderstanding of probability.

http://video eco-anxiety

A serious increase in Anxiety• “Since April, there is been a

32.817% increase in public

cases of GWSS.” (2008)

• “The rate now is almost

double what it was this time

last year.”(Briggs, W. 2008)

• Is considered to be a

communicable disease.

• Most people infected are

people of weak minds and are

easily influenced.

Scientific Evidence

• What is the evidence for this direct link between hot temperature and aggressive behavior?– Experiments have shown that simply being in

a hot room makes people feel angrier than being in a comfortable room

• State of mind is altered• Aggressive thoughts increase

Psychological Effects on Children

• The way global warming directly effects schoolchildren is that there have been several attempts to educate children in specific and different manners.– Depending on their typical understanding

of the science programs use to target global warming awareness.

– These programs encourage schoolchildren to become more active in the environment and that any little action counts.

Psychological Effects on Animals

• “Animals are just reacting to what's going on out there. And if their behavior is very similar to what we expect with what's going on with global warming -- if they're shifting and they're moving, if they're changing their breeding time by 5 days in 10 years -- we can use that information to support what the thermometers are also showing.”(Than, K. 2005)

Positive Psychological Effects

• Not everything associated with Global Warming is negative. The silver lining is how its finally impacting some people. – Knowledge– People can do something about it – Slow down the process of global warming

ConclusionAs you can see, an understanding of fear and how it works

suggests that trying to scare us into action, as many of the

popular texts on global warming seek to do, could be counter-

productive. We need to find alternatives to fear more appropriate

emotional stimuli to motivate an effective response to global

warming. Finding those alternatives could be the most urgent and

important problem the human sciences ever have to address.

Global warming represent a serious issue that deserves careful

consideration.

Websites that will inform…

• http://www.livescience.com/environment/050621_warming_changes.html

• http://epa.gov/climatechange/kids/greenhouse.html

• http://www.Freecycle.org

• http://www.globalwarming-facts.info/50-tips.html

BibliographyAnderson, C., PhD.(2007) Psychological Effects of

Global Warming. Retrieved March 30, 2008,

Chalfant, C. (2008) suffering from ‘eco-anxiety.’ Retrieved March 30, 2008, Web site:

Bibliography cont’d.

• Spencer, R. (2007).What is Global Warming?. Retrieved March 30, 2008,

• Than, K. (2005). How Global Warming is changing the wild Kingdom. Retrieved March 30, 2008,

Bibliography• Briggs, W. (2008). Global Warming Stress Syndrome

Increasing, Psychologists says. Retrieved March 30, 2008, Web site: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1969574/posts