#Unrealistic optimism example how to#
#Unrealistic optimism example pdf#

Research in the UK, for example, suggests that we pay little visual attention to carbon footprint information on products – other features, like price, value, brand etc., are much more immediately salient, and a 2013 survey by Yale University found that only 63 per cent of Americans ‘believe that global warming is happening’. Indeed, there seems to be a monumental disconnect between the scientific evidence for climate change and public perception and action. Sometimes it’s better to stay silent.Īlthough the role of human activity in the causation of climate change is both ‘clear’ (and ‘growing’), evidence for large-scale behavioural adaptation on the part of the public appears absent. It was also probably not the best time to point out that there is a remarkable scientific consensus on climate change – ‘remarkable’ because it is rare to see this degree of scientific agreement on anything. Some have suggested instead ‘climate chaos’, which captures better what we are witnessing in terms of more frequent extreme and unpredictable weather patterns. It wouldn’t have felt right talking about the difference between the weather and the climate to that man on the bus, or even trying to empathise with the fact that ‘global warming’ can be a highly misleading term for many. There is just too much disagreement that cannot be bridged by polite words. It seems that climate change like politics, religion and death has entered the domain of topics that are not discussed in polite conversation. ‘You don’t believe in that rubbish, do you?’ His look was accusatory, it demanded an answer. ‘So that’s global warming for you,’ he said and looked at me to join him in some communal condemnation of this great hoax. It was only a fine dusting but it was enough. ‘Well, that’s nonsense for a start,’ he said. He tutted on his third glance at the page and then started to speak abruptly.

The pure white page of the notebook had just two words on it. He kept glancing over at it, surreptitiously at first, and then with longer glances as if he wanted to be seen. It was probably the open notebook that attracted his attention.

#Unrealistic optimism example how to#

How to avoid talking about climate changeĬonversations with strangers on buses can be very awkward. Geoffrey Beattie is Professor of Psychology at Edge Hill University.

#Unrealistic optimism example pdf#

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