Date of Award

11-2023

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Psychology

Program

Psychological Science (MS)

First Advisor/Chairperson

Joshua Carlson

Abstract

Climate change is the most important issue facing modern day humans, and the solutions are not developing at a quick enough rate. In many cases, human-derived climate effects have crossed the threshold to becoming irreversible, and, as we remain inactive, are continuing to worsen as mitigating steps are not taken. Some of the most devastating effects facing humans include rising sea levels that threaten to flood coastal regions, and heatwaves of heightened intensity which threaten access to potable water and loss of food crops. Humans are not the only victims of climate change. Ecosystems are also greatly threatened by climate change as native species have continued to go extinct as a direct result of factors like overexploitation, pollution, land development, and the introduction of non-native species. Climate change policies and technological solutions, with particular regard to emotional/affective qualities, would be better communicated with a stronger understanding of attention. There is much debate regarding how attention is allocated. The present study aimed to alter attention bias towards climate-relevant images using emotional inducements of either pride or guilt, and assess change in attention bias with an eye-tracking device. It was found that participants induced to experience pride engaged in attentive avoidance of the climate change images, and negative images of climate change elicited greater attention bias than positive images of climate change. There was no interaction between the inducement condition and image valence.

Access Type

Open Access

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