EvoS Journal: The Journal of the Evolutionary Studies Consortium
Volume 8, Special Issue 3, 2016
Title
The Role of Income, Gender, and Mating Preference on Climate Change Attitudes
Author(s)
Sturman, E., Chantel, C., Bremser, J., & Dufford, A.
Abstract
Any attempts to reduce overconsumption and climate change need to take evolved human predispositions into account or they are likely to be ineffective. An experiment was conducted to assess the extent to which status and mating preferences could alter climate change attitudes. Participants were a mixed student/community sample (n=140) who visited Survey Monkey and were asked to read a passage on consumerism. The manipulation was embedded within the passage and participants were randomly assigned to receive messages that celebrities were launching “green” (i.e. environmentally conscious) products (versus a control) or that the opposite sex was attracted to individuals who made green purchases (versus a control). Climate change attitudes were assessed with three items on the ability to remedy global warming, exaggeration of global warming (reversed), and responsibility for global warming. Results indicated that people with higher income levels (i.e. > $75,000) and males showed greater denial of global warming. A moderation analysis demonstrated that females informed of mating preferences for green consumers showed significantly higher optimism about remedying global warming and were less likely to endorse that it was exaggerated. This ran counter to predictions based on sexual selection, where males would be expected to alter attitudes to compete for females.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.59077/MCAD3954
How to cite this article:
Sturman, E., Chantel, C., Bremser, J., & Dufford, A. (2017). The role of income, gender, and mating preference on climate change attitudes. The Journal of the Evolutionary Studies Consortium, 8, Sp. Iss. (3), 40-57.
