TY - JOUR
T1 - Experiencing Climate Change Virtually
T2 - The Effects of Virtual Reality on Climate Change Related Cognitions, Emotions, and Behavior
AU - Meijers, Marijn H.C.
AU - Torfadóttir, Ragnheiður “Heather”
AU - Wonneberger, Anke
AU - Maslowska, Ewa
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - We conducted a pre-registered, between-subjects experiment to investigate whether experiencing climate change consequences virtually can influence cognitions, emotions, and pro-environmental intentions and behaviors. Participants (N = 277) experienced a wildfire through different media that varied in their degree of technological immersiveness (virtual reality vs. regular video vs. magazine articles only). Participants in the virtual reality condition reported higher spatial presence, stronger emotional responses, stronger bodily responses, and reported that the experience felt more life-like. Increased spatial presence was associated with increased risk perceptions and negative emotions. Risk perceptions and negative emotions were subsequently associated with reduced intentions to consume dairy and meat, but not associated with actual plant-based food choices (vegan vs. non-vegan chocolate bar). Actual donations to ENGOs were only influenced by risk perceptions, not emotions. The role of psychological distance was explored, which led to different conclusions for quantitative (no effect of virtual reality) and qualitative measures (virtual reality can reduce psychological distance).
AB - We conducted a pre-registered, between-subjects experiment to investigate whether experiencing climate change consequences virtually can influence cognitions, emotions, and pro-environmental intentions and behaviors. Participants (N = 277) experienced a wildfire through different media that varied in their degree of technological immersiveness (virtual reality vs. regular video vs. magazine articles only). Participants in the virtual reality condition reported higher spatial presence, stronger emotional responses, stronger bodily responses, and reported that the experience felt more life-like. Increased spatial presence was associated with increased risk perceptions and negative emotions. Risk perceptions and negative emotions were subsequently associated with reduced intentions to consume dairy and meat, but not associated with actual plant-based food choices (vegan vs. non-vegan chocolate bar). Actual donations to ENGOs were only influenced by risk perceptions, not emotions. The role of psychological distance was explored, which led to different conclusions for quantitative (no effect of virtual reality) and qualitative measures (virtual reality can reduce psychological distance).
KW - Climate change
KW - behavior change
KW - emotions
KW - psychological distance
KW - threat
KW - virtual reality
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85164482682&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85164482682&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/17524032.2023.2229043
DO - 10.1080/17524032.2023.2229043
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85164482682
SN - 1752-4032
VL - 17
SP - 581
EP - 601
JO - Environmental Communication
JF - Environmental Communication
IS - 6
ER -