The rise of global warming skepticism: Exploring affective image associations in the United States over time
Abstract
This article explores how affective image associations to global warming have changed over time. Four nationally representative surveys of the American public were conducted between 2002 and 2010 to assess public global warming risk perceptions, policy preferences, and behavior. Affective images (positive or negative feelings and cognitive representations) were collected and content analyzed. The results demonstrate a large increase in "naysayer" associations, indicating extreme skepticism about the issue of climate change. Multiple regression analyses found that holistic affect and "naysayer" associations were more significant predictors of global warming risk perceptions than cultural worldviews or sociodemographic variables, including political party and ideology. The results demonstrate the important role affective imagery plays in judgment and decision-making processes, how these variables change over time, and how global warming is currently perceived by the American public.
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Popular books critical of climate science routinely refer to global warming as a conspiracy or hoax, and conspiracist themes have been identified in climate media coverage and in people's affective imagery evoked by climate change.
“Popular books critical of climate science routinely refer to global warming as a “conspiracy” or “hoax” [25], and conspiracist themes have been identified in climate media coverage [26] and in people's affective imagery evoked by climate change [21].”
From The Role of Conspiracist Ideation and Worldviews in Predicting Rejection of Science (2013) · cites this paper as [21]
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- Authors
- Smith, N., & Leiserowitz, A.
- Affiliations
- Yale University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Leiserowitz, Anthony
- Venue
- Risk Analysis
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2012-04-04
- Volume
- 32
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 1021-1032
- ISSN
- 0272-4332 (ISSN-L)
- 1539-6924
- OpenAlex
- W2043561323
- Cited by
- 292
- References
- 47
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 22 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 24 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 57 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 29 · 2015: 31 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 68.30
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Risk Analysis (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Yale University
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Climate Change Communication and Perception
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Risk Perception and Management
- Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Climate Change Policy and Economics
- Keywords
- global warming skepticism, climate change denial, risk perception, climate change behavior, cultural worldview, political ideology, American public opinion
- MeSH terms
- Attitude, Cognition, Humans, Perception, Politics, Public Opinion, Public Policy, Regression Analysis, Research Design, Risk, Time Factors, United States, Models, Statistical, Imagery, Psychotherapy, Climate Change, Global Warming
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