A Social Identity Approach to Engaging Christians in the Issue of Climate Change. Issue 4 (August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Goldberg, Matthew H.; Gustafson, Abel; Ballew, Matthew T.; Rosenthal, Seth A.; Leiserowitz, Anthony
• Is Part Of: Science communication. Volume 41:Issue 4(2019)
• Page Start: 442
• Page End: 463
• Publication Date: 2019-08
• Subjects: social identity -- climate change -- global warming -- attitudes; Social sciences -- Periodicals; Knowledge, Sociology of -- Periodicals; Communication in science -- Periodicals; Communication of technical information -- Periodicals; Communication in medicine -- Periodicals; Information scientifique -- Périodiques; Information technique -- Périodiques; Communication en sciences sociales -- Périodiques; Communication en médecine -- Périodiques; 300.14
• DOI: 10.1177/1075547019860847
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1075-5470

Abstract

Using two nationally representative surveys (total N = 2, 544) and two experiments (total N = 1, 620), we investigate a social identity approach to engaging Christians in the issue of climate change. Results show Christian Americans say "protecting God's creation" is a top reason for wanting to reduce global warming. An exploratory experiment and a preregistered replication tested a "stewardship frame" message with Christian Americans and found significant increases in pro-environmental and climate change beliefs, which were explained by increases in viewing environmental protection as a moral and religious issue, and perceptions that other Christians care about environmental protection.