The DOI matches its Crossref record; 64 of the 64 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
System Justification, the Denial of Global Warming, and the Possibility of “System-Sanctioned Change”
Abstract
Despite extensive evidence of climate change and environmental destruction, polls continue to reveal widespread denial and resistance to helping the environment. It is posited here that these responses are linked to the motivational tendency to defend and justify the societal status quo in the face of the threat posed by environmental problems. The present research finds that system justification tendencies are associated with greater denial of environmental realities and less commitment to pro-environmental action. Moreover, the effects of political conservatism, national identification, and gender on denial of environmental problems are explained by variability in system justification tendencies. However, this research finds that it is possible to eliminate the negative effect of system justification on environmentalism by encouraging people to regard pro-environmental change as patriotic and consistent with protecting the status quo (i.e., as a case of “system-sanctioned change”). Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.
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“Feygina et al. (2010) showed that conservatives were more likely to endorse environmental protection when it was framed as protecting the American way of life”
From A Social Identity Analysis of Climate Change and Environmental Attitudes and Behaviors: Insights and Opportunities (2016) · cites this paper as Feygina et al., 2010
In the citing paper
“framing environmental issues in terms of conservative values such as purity, sanctity, commerce or patriotism might lead conservatives to express more support for pro-environmental legislation275–279.”
From Cognitive–motivational mechanisms of political polarization in social-communicative contexts (2022) · cites this paper as [276]
In the citing paper
“On this view, the driving psychological force that is underlying the rejection of science is “system justification” [42], [43]; that is, a person's need to perceive the current political and economic system as fair, legitimate, and stable.”
From The Role of Conspiracist Ideation and Worldviews in Predicting Rejection of Science (2013) · cites this paper as [42]
In the citing paper
“According to the system justification view, scientific findings are rejected by people high in system justification when the evidence challenges the status quo [42], rather than on”
From The Role of Conspiracist Ideation and Worldviews in Predicting Rejection of Science (2013) · cites this paper as [42]
In the citing paper
“because system justification tends to be greater among conservatives than liberals [42]”
From The Role of Conspiracist Ideation and Worldviews in Predicting Rejection of Science (2013) · cites this paper as [42]
In the citing paper
“scientific findings are rejected by people high in system justification when the evidence challenges the status quo [42], rather than on the basis of ideology per se.”
From The Role of Conspiracist Ideation and Worldviews in Predicting Rejection of Science (2013) · cites this paper as [42]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Feygina, I., Jost, J. T., & Goldsmith, R. E.
- Affiliations
- New York University (US)
- Reed College (US)
- Corresponding author
- Feygina, Irina
- Venue
- Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2009-12-15
- Volume
- 36
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 326-338
- ISSN
- 0146-1672 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-7433
- OpenAlex
- W2135568665
- Cited by
- 720
- References
- 64
- Citations by year
- 2026: 35 · 2025: 50 · 2024: 47 · 2023: 43 · 2022: 55 · 2021: 54 · 2020: 86 · 2019: 58 · 2018: 38 · 2017: 49 · 2016: 51 · 2015: 37 · 2014: 33 · 2013: 37 · 2012: 22
- FWCI
- 48.52
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Climate Change Communication and Perception
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law › Pro-Environmental Behavior and Attitudes
- Keywords
- system justification, climate change denial, pro-environmental behavior, political conservatism, national identification, gender differences, patriotism, environmentalism
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Attitude, Conservation of Natural Resources, Data Collection, Denial, Psychological, Female, Humans, Male, Motivation, New York City, Psychological Theory, Young Adult, Global Warming
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