From decision-making to understanding how our values shape how we interact with the nature, psychology offers unique insights into climate change.
Below is a snapshot of how UBC Psychology is uncovering the human side of the climate crisis.
How a lottery-style refund system could boost recycling
Would you rather have 10 cents in your pocket or a 1-in-10,000 shot at $1,000? Many people would choose the latter and that could be the key to getting people to recycle more, Dr. Jiaying Zhao has found.
Learn more arrow_right_alt
Nature is a bipartisan love affair if we stick to the basics
Matthew Billet and Ara Norenzayan found that no matter their political stripe, people value nature for the same big reasons: survival, the beauty of the outdoors, and leaving something for future generations.
Learn more arrow_right_alt
This turtle helped reduce plastic waste in a building
Dr. Jiaying Zhao and Yu Luo placed the turtle’s picture above recycling bins in an office building and found visualizing marine consequences of plastic pollution prompts people to reduce their plastic waste.
Learn more arrow_right_alt
How to talk to people about climate change
Psychology research may offer some insight, examining biases towards climate information and offering tools to overcome these and communicate climate change more effectively.
Learn more arrow_right_alt
Nature vs. urban: What we look at impacts how we think, walk
Dr. Todd Handy found that exposure to urban scenes requires more cognitive resources than exposure to nature scenes.
Learn more arrow_right_alt