What affects psychological distance to a species? 2 ...€¦ · To understand the reasons why...
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Ta age me Ho Me ke ss Introduction ● Conservation messaging is important and with the increase of extinction, decreasing populations, and poor human behavior, it is essential to research how to improve conservation efforts worldwide. Background ● Mere exposure effect: Psychological phenomenon by which people tend to develop a preference for things merely because they are familiar with them¹ ● The further the physical distance, the more events can be perceived as abstract² ● Perceptions and attitudes are potentially affected by regional demographics³ ● Attitudes about a species affect public support of that species ⁴ Distance language can affect perceptions and support of conservation. Therefore, facilities should take this in consideration while creating conservation messaging for various species from various regions. Psychological Distance Cognitive separation from you to another How close or far you FEEL Physical Distance Physical separation from you to another How close or far you ARE Methods Survey ● Online self-report survey created using Qualtrics. ● Recruitment through Amazon’s MTurk program and social media platforms (n = 267). ○ MTurk participants were compensated $0.17. ● Participants were asked to respond to prompts regarding their perceived conservation status and proposed support for 16 different species with Florida, North America, Asia, and Africa nomenclature. ○ Ratings on a likert scales were completed for conservation attitudes, anthropomorphism, animals as beings, and inclusion of self or other scale. ○ Participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 conditions (Florida, Asia, Africa, and North America) and assess on a likert scale positive and negative psychological distance and extinction attitudes towards several species. ● A fake species “The Cottrick” was in all four conditions (Florida, Asia, Africa, and North America) as a control. Objectives To understand the reasons why people choose to support conservation efforts of certain species over others ● How does physical distance to a species’ geographic language marker in their name (ex: Florida manatee or American black bear) affect psychological distance to that species? ● How does distance (physical or psychological) affect conservation attitudes and support? ● What affects psychological distance to a species? The Role of Distance Language on Conservation Engagement with the Public Miranda L. Cottrell, Erin E. Frick, Maddie W. Ketner, & Aimee M. Beliveau Future Directions ● Self-identified group membership effect on conservation attitudes and on level of empathy towards animals. ● Level of contact with a species (media or in person) effect on psychological distance to that species. ● Level of exposure to a region on conservation attitudes about species from that region: currently living in, lived in, traveled to, etc. ● The effect of living in an urban or rural environment on conservation attitudes and on level of empathy towards animals. ● Perceived conservation statuses compared to real conservation statuses. ● International affairs effect on conservation attitudes on species ● Include more diverse samples in terms of participant demographics. Main Conclusions Public perception of a species’ conservation status Hypotheses Physical distance: Conservation ● Participants that are closer to the location in the geographic language marker, in a species name, will support that species more. Physical distance: P sychological distance ● Participants that are closer to the location in the geographic language marker, in a species name, will have a closer psychological distance (positive or negative). Psychological distance: Conservation ● Participants with close, positive psychological distance to a species will support that species . Species Florida North American African Asian Floridian cottrick North American cottrick African cottrick Chinese cottrick Florida softshell turtle North American river otter African bullfrog Chinese alligator Florida manatee American bullfrog African river otter Asiatic black bear American alligator*** Species in under Florida as the species is highly tied to the state American black bear African manatee Asian softshell turtle Fig. #3. There is a significant difference in which animal was likely to be awarded a gift card X 2 (15) = 251.362, p < 0.0001. The five highest and five lowest scoring animals are featured. Fig. #.2 Noah’s Ark Problem: There is a significant difference in which animals participants were most likely to save if they could only choose 7 X 2 (2) = 403.256 p < 0.0001. Fig. #1. There was a statistically significant difference between geographic language markers in a species’ name and the public’s perception of the conservation status of that species ( F(4,15) = 9.11, p = .006. Geographic language markers in a species name Public favor and support for a species conservation Public perception of a species’ conservation status Being physically closer to the region in the species name Conservation Attitudes & Support 1. Zajonc, R. B. (1968). Attitudinal effects of mere exposure. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 9(2, Pt.2), 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0025848, 2. Fujita, K., Henderson, M. D., Eng, J., Trope, Y., & Liberman, N. (2006). Spatial Distance and Mental Construal of Social Events. Psychological Science, 17(4), 278–282. Doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9280.2006.01698.x 3. Liordos, V., Kontsiotis, V. J., Anastasiadou, M., & Karavasias, E. (2017). Effects of attitudes and demography on public support for endangered species conservation. Science of the Total Environment, 595 (1), 25-34. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.03.24 4.Fuhrman, N. E., & Ladewig, H. (2008). Characteristics of Animals Used in Zoo Interpretation: A Synthesis of Research. Journal of Interpretation Research. 13(2). 31-42.1
Transcript of What affects psychological distance to a species? 2 ...€¦ · To understand the reasons why...
Ta age me Ho Me ke ss
Introduction● Conservation messaging is important and with the increase of
extinction, decreasing populations, and poor human behavior, it is essential to research how to improve conservation efforts worldwide.
Background● Mere exposure effect: Psychological phenomenon by which
people tend to develop a preference for things merely because they are familiar with them¹
● The further the physical distance, the more events can be perceived as abstract²
● Perceptions and attitudes are potentially affected by regional demographics³
● Attitudes about a species affect public support of that species⁴
Distance language can affect perceptions and support of conservation.
Therefore, facilities should take this in consideration while creating conservation
messaging for various species from various regions.
Psychological Distance
Cognitive separation from you to another
How close or far you FEEL
Physical Distance
Physical separation from you to another
How close or far you ARE
MethodsSurvey
● Online self-report survey created using Qualtrics.
● Recruitment through Amazon’s MTurk program and social media platforms (n = 267).○ MTurk participants were compensated $0.17.
● Participants were asked to respond to prompts regarding their perceived conservation status and proposed support for 16 different species with Florida, North America, Asia, and Africa nomenclature.○ Ratings on a likert scales were completed for conservation
attitudes, anthropomorphism, animals as beings, and inclusion of self or other scale.
○ Participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 conditions (Florida, Asia, Africa, and North America) and assess on a likert scale positive and negative psychological distance and extinction attitudes towards several species.
● A fake species “The Cottrick” was in all four conditions (Florida, Asia, Africa, and North America) as a control.
ObjectivesTo understand the reasons why people choose to support
conservation efforts of certain species over others
● How does physical distance to a species’ geographic language marker in their name (ex: Florida manatee or American black bear) affect psychological distance to that species?
● How does distance (physical or psychological) affect conservation attitudes and support?
● What affects psychological distance to a species?
The Role of Distance Language on Conservation Engagement with the PublicMiranda L. Cottrell, Erin E. Frick, Maddie W. Ketner, & Aimee M. Beliveau
Future Directions● Self-identified group membership effect on conservation attitudes and
on level of empathy towards animals.● Level of contact with a species (media or in person) effect on
psychological distance to that species.● Level of exposure to a region on conservation attitudes about species
from that region: currently living in, lived in, traveled to, etc.● The effect of living in an urban or rural environment on conservation
attitudes and on level of empathy towards animals.● Perceived conservation statuses compared to real conservation
statuses.● International affairs effect on conservation attitudes on species● Include more diverse samples in terms of participant demographics.
Main ConclusionsPublic perception of a species’ conservation status
HypothesesPhysical distance: Conservation
● Participants that are closer to the location in the geographic language marker, in a species name, will support that species more.
Physical distance: Psychological distance● Participants that are closer to the location in the geographic language marker, in a species name, will have
a closer psychological distance (positive or negative).Psychological distance: Conservation
● Participants with close, positive psychological distance to a species will support that species .
Species Florida North American African AsianFloridian cottrick North American cottrick African cottrick Chinese cottrick
Florida softshell turtle North American river otter African bullfrog Chinese alligator
Florida manatee American bullfrog African river otter Asiatic black bear
American alligator***Species in under Florida as the species is highly tied to the state
American black bear African manatee Asian softshell turtle
Fig. #3. There is a significant difference in which animal was likely to be awarded a gift card X2(15) = 251.362, p < 0.0001. The five highest and five lowest scoring animals are featured.
Fig. #.2 Noah’s Ark Problem: There is a significant difference in which animals participants were most likely to save if they could only choose 7 X2(2) = 403.256 p < 0.0001.
Fig. #1. There was a statistically significant difference between geographic language markers in a species’ name and the public’s perception of the conservation status of that species (F(4,15) = 9.11, p = .006.
Geographic language
markers in a species name
Public favor and support for a species conservation
Public perception of
a species’ conservation
status
Being physically
closer to the region in the species name
ConservationAttitudes &
Support
1. Zajonc, R. B. (1968). Attitudinal effects of mere exposure. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 9(2, Pt.2), 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0025848, 2. Fujita, K., Henderson, M. D., Eng, J., Trope, Y., & Liberman, N. (2006). Spatial Distance and Mental Construal of Social Events. Psychological Science, 17(4), 278–282. Doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9280.2006.01698.x 3. Liordos, V., Kontsiotis, V. J., Anastasiadou, M., & Karavasias, E. (2017). Effects of attitudes and demography on public support for endangered species conservation. Science of the Total Environment, 595 (1), 25-34. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.03.24 4.Fuhrman, N. E., & Ladewig, H. (2008). Characteristics of Animals Used in Zoo Interpretation: A Synthesis of Research. Journal of Interpretation Research. 13(2). 31-42.1
