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Engaging with Climate Change: Comparing the Cultures of Science and Activism

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Climate Psychology

Part of the book series: Studies in the Psychosocial ((STIP))

Abstract

This chapter reports on interviews with climate scientists and activists, two groups who face the disturbing reality of climate change on a regular basis. The contrasting cultures of science and activism, one institutional and the other informal, had considerable influence over the way in which they dealt with the emotional and ethical challenges of their work. Evidence suggested scientists resorted to social defences such as hyper-rationality, whereas activists adopted a more reflexive and literate approach. This had some dysfunctional consequences for scientists, encouraging abstraction, caution and isolation.

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Correspondence to Rosemary Randall .

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Randall, R., Hoggett, P. (2019). Engaging with Climate Change: Comparing the Cultures of Science and Activism. In: Hoggett, P. (eds) Climate Psychology. Studies in the Psychosocial. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-11741-2_12

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