Percepciones públicas, distancia psicológica y comunicación de riesgos frente al cambio climático: Una revisión contextualizada en Perú

Climate change represents a major threat to humanity and it is a matter of concern for the scientific community, society and politicians. The lack of contextual knowledge on risk perception generates a gap between developed and developing countries, being the last ones the most vulnerable to its effects. All this leads us to propose a review study on risk perception, psychological distance and risk communication in the face of climate change, contextualised in Peru. Efforts made by different public institutions and non-governmental organizations are intended for proposing solid programs in the face of climate change. In this context, the support of government policies contextualized in the Peruvian reality is fundamental to put a brake on the increase in temperature and the increase in greenhouse gas emissions. Finally, the paper concludes by indicating the need for interdisciplinary studies that allow for the identification of the importance of the role played by variables such as risk perception, psychological distance and communication strategies in the processes of adaptation and mitigation to climate change.El cambio climático representa una gran amenaza para la humanidad y es motivo de preocupación para la comunidad científica, la sociedad y los políticos. La escasez de conocimientos contextualizados sobre la percepción de riesgo genera una brecha entre los países desarrollados y en vías de desarrollo, siendo estos últimos los más vulnerables a sus efectos. Todo esto nos lleva a plantear un estudio de revisión sobre percepción de riesgo, distancia psicológica y comunicación de riesgo frente al cambio climático, contextualizado en Perú. Los esfuerzos que se realizan desde diferentes instituciones públicas y organizaciones no gubernamentales son para proponer programas sólidos frente al cambio climático. En este contexto, el apoyo de políticas de gobierno contextualizadas en la realidad peruana resulta fundamental para poner un freno al incremento de temperatura y al aumento de emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero. Se concluye indicando la necesidad de estudios interdisciplinarios que permitan identificar la importancia del rol que juegan variables como la percepción de riesgo, distancia psicológica y las estrategias de comunicación en los procesos de adaptación y mitigación frente al cambio climático

Conocimientos e ideas erróneas sobre las causas del cambio climático: un estudio transversal

El conocimiento del cambio climático es una condición necesaria para la comprensión de este fenómeno y por ende para la generación de comportamientos ambientales, no obstante, el conocimiento de las causas aún es un área discutible respecto a las concepciones correctas y erróneas. La presente investigación tiene como objetivo analizar los conocimientos correctos e ideas erróneas sobre las causas de origen antropogénico que contribuyen al cambio climático. La muestra estuvo conformada por N= 250 sujetos de la ciudad Cusco, en Perú. Respecto a los conocimientos que causan el cambio climático, se observa que la mayoría de los participantes identifica la quema de combustibles fósiles, el aumento de dióxido de carbono, la deforestación, el hecho de conducir un coche, como lo más relevantes. Por otro lado, las concepciones erróneas relacionadas con el cambio climático fueron, los residuos tóxicos, las centrales nucleares, latas de aerosol, el agujero de la capa de ozono. En el análisis de grupo, se encontró diferencias significativas respecto a la ocupación (entre amas de casa y profesionales), y educación (nivel secundario y técnico). Sin embargo, el sexo, la edad, el ingreso económico no fueron significativos. Finalmente, se discute las implicancias de las concepciones correctas y erróneas, en el desarrollo de una conciencia sobre los riesgos del cambio climático, y los niveles de compromiso y participación en estrategias de adaptación y mitigación.Knowledge of climate change is a necessary condition for the understanding of this phenomenon and thus for the generation of environmental behaviors, however, the knowledge of the causes is still a debatable area regarding correct and erroneous conceptions. The present research aims to analyses the correct knowledge and misconceptions about the anthropogenic causes that contribute to climate change. The sample consisted of N= 250 subjects from the city of Cusco, Peru. Regarding the knowledge that causes climate change, it is observed that most of the participants identify the burning of fossil fuels, the increase of carbon dioxide, deforestation, and the fact of driving a car as the most relevant. On the other hand, misconceptions related to climate change were toxic waste, nuclear power plants, aerosol cans, ozone hole. In the group analysis, significant differences were found with respect to occupation (between housewives and professionals), and education (secondary and technical level). However, gender, age and income were not significant. Finally, the implications of misconceptions and misconceptions on the development of awareness of climate change risks, and levels of engagement and participation in adaptation and mitigation strategies are discussed

Addressing climate change with behavioral science: a global intervention tournament in 63 countries

Effectively reducing climate change requires marked, global behavior change. However, it is unclear which strategies are most likely to motivate people to change their climate beliefs and behaviors. Here, we tested 11 expert-crowdsourced interventions on four climate mitigation outcomes: beliefs, policy support, information sharing intention, and an effortful tree-planting behavioral task. Across 59,440 participants from 63 countries, the interventions’ effectiveness was small, largely limited to nonclimate skeptics, and differed across outcomes: Beliefs were strengthened mostly by decreasing psychological distance (by 2.3%), policy support by writing a letter to a future-generation member (2.6%), information sharing by negative emotion induction (12.1%), and no intervention increased the more effortful behavior—several interventions even reduced tree planting. Last, the effects of each intervention differed depending on people’s initial climate beliefs. These findings suggest that the impact of behavioral climate interventions varies across audiences and target behaviors

Psychological Factors Affecting Risk Perception of COVID-19: Evidence from Peru and China

COVID-19 has spread around the world, causing a global pandemic, and to date is impacting in various ways in both developed and developing countries. We know that the spread of this virus is through people’s behavior despite the perceived risks. Risk perception plays an important role in decision-making to prevent infection. Using data from the online survey of participants in Peru and China (N = 1594), data were collected between 8 July 31 and August 2020. We found that levels of risk perception are relatively moderate, but higher in Peru compared to China. In both countries, anxiety, threat perception, self-confidence, and sex were found to be significant predictors of risk perception; however, trust in the information received by government and experts was significant only in Peru, whereas self-confidence had a significant negative effect only for China. Risk communication should be implemented through information programs aimed at reducing anxiety and improving self-confidence, taking into consideration gender differences. In addition, the information generated by the government should be based on empirical sources. Finally, the implications for effective risk communication and its impacts on the health field are discussed

Sexual Activity in Peruvian Adolescents: Relevance of Socio-Demographic Variables and Sexual Attitudes

Data Availability Statement: The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy.Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation), grant number A/030018/10.The aim of this study was to explain the masturbation frequency and sexual relationships in adolescents based on age, religious adherence, erotophilia, attitudes toward sexual fantasies and masturbation, and the traditional sexual double standard. A sample of 1120 Peruvian adolescents aged 13–17 years responded to a socio-demographic questionnaire and different scales about sexuality. The frequency of masturbation and sexual relationships, as well as in the sexual attitudes evaluated differed by sex, with boys scoring higher. The masturbation frequency was explained by erotophilia in boys, and by positive attitudes toward sexual fantasies in both sexes. The frequency of sexual relationships was explained by age and positive attitudes toward sexual fantasies in boys and only by the latter in girls. Positive attitudes toward sexual fantasies stand out as a variable for understanding sexual activity in adolescents

Trust in scientists and their role in society across 67 countries

Scientific information is crucial for evidence-based decision-making. Public trust in science can help decision-makers act based on the best available evidence, especially during crises such as climate change or the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in recent years the epistemic authority of science has been challenged, causing concerns about low public trust in scientists. Here we interrogated these concerns with a pre-registered 67-country survey of 71,417 respondents on all inhabited continents and find that in most countries, a majority of the public trust scientists and think that scientists should be more engaged in policymaking. We further show that there is a discrepancy between the public’s perceived and desired priorities of scientific research. Moreover, we find variations between and within countries, which we explain with individual-and country-level variables,including political orientation. While these results do not show widespread lack of trust in scientists, we cannot discount the concern that lack of trust in scientists by even a small minority may affect considerations of scientific evidence in policymaking. These findings have implications for scientists and policymakers seeking to maintain and increase trust in scientists

Trust in scientists and their role in society across 67 countries

Scientific information is crucial for evidence-based decision-making. Public trust in science can help decision-makers act based on the best available evidence, especially during crises such as climate change or the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in recent years the epistemic authority of science has been challenged, causing concerns about low public trust in scientists. Here we interrogated these concerns with a pre-registered 67-country survey of 71,417 respondents on all inhabited continents and find that in most countries, a majority of the public trust scientists and think that scientists should be more engaged in policymaking. We further show that there is a discrepancy between the public’s perceived and desired priorities of scientific research. Moreover, we find variations between and within countries, which we explain with individual-and country-level variables,including political orientation. While these results do not show widespread lack of trust in scientists, we cannot discount the concern that lack of trust in scientists by even a small minority may affect considerations of scientific evidence in policymaking. These findings have implications for scientists and policymakers seeking to maintain and increase trust in scientists

Addressing climate change with behavioral science: A global intervention tournament in 63 countries

International audienceEffectively reducing climate change requires marked, global behavior change. However, it is unclear which strategies are most likely to motivate people to change their climate beliefs and behaviors. Here, we tested 11 expert-crowdsourced interventions on four climate mitigation outcomes: beliefs, policy support, information sharing intention, and an effortful tree-planting behavioral task. Across 59,440 participants from 63 countries, the interventions’ effectiveness was small, largely limited to nonclimate skeptics, and differed across outcomes: Beliefs were strengthened mostly by decreasing psychological distance (by 2.3%), policy support by writing a letter to a future-generation member (2.6%), information sharing by negative emotion induction (12.1%), and no intervention increased the more effortful behavior—several interventions even reduced tree planting. Last, the effects of each intervention differed depending on people’s initial climate beliefs. These findings suggest that the impact of behavioral climate interventions varies across audiences and target behaviors

Addressing climate change with behavioral science::A global intervention tournament in 63 countries

Effectively reducing climate change requires marked, global behavior change. However, it is unclear which strategies are most likely to motivate people to change their climate beliefs and behaviors. Here, we tested 11 expert-crowdsourced interventions on four climate mitigation outcomes: beliefs, policy support, information sharing intention, and an effortful tree-planting behavioral task. Across 59,440 participants from 63 countries, the interventions’ effectiveness was small, largely limited to nonclimate skeptics, and differed across outcomes: Beliefs were strengthened mostly by decreasing psychological distance (by 2.3%), policy support by writing a letter to a future-generation member (2.6%), information sharing by negative emotion induction (12.1%), and no intervention increased the more effortful behavior—several interventions even reduced tree planting. Last, the effects of each intervention differed depending on people’s initial climate beliefs. These findings suggest that the impact of behavioral climate interventions varies across audiences and target behaviors

Addressing climate change with behavioral science: A global intervention tournament in 63 countries

Effectively reducing climate change requires marked, global behavior change. However, it is unclear which strategies are most likely to motivate people to change their climate beliefs and behaviors. Here, we tested 11 expert-crowdsourced interventions on four climate mitigation outcomes: beliefs, policy support, information sharing intention, and an effortful tree-planting behavioral task. Across 59,440 participants from 63 countries, the interventions’ effectiveness was small, largely limited to nonclimate skeptics, and differed across outcomes: Beliefs were strengthened mostly by decreasing psychological distance (by 2.3%), policy support by writing a letter to a future-generation member (2.6%), information sharing by negative emotion induction (12.1%), and no intervention increased the more effortful behavior—several interventions even reduced tree planting. Last, the effects of each intervention differed depending on people’s initial climate beliefs. These findings suggest that the impact of behavioral climate interventions varies across audiences and target behaviors