Beyond Reason: Morality, Polarization, and the Communication of Climate Change
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Date
2015-06
Authors
Gibson, Charley
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
This paper describes cognitive tendencies when people are confronted with politically polarized issues of high moral salience. It argues that political polarization is a result of a combination of group-preferring biases and the emotional basis of the human moral system. Suggestions for how to transcend political polarization and communicate effectively are then offered, specifically for the issue of climate change. The paper’s motivation is to work towards conveying the urgency of action to mitigate the severity of climate change to the general public.
Description
26 pages. A thesis presented to the Department of Political Science and the Clark Honors College of the University of Oregon in partial fulfillment of the requirements for degree of Bachelor of Arts, Spring 2015.
Keywords
Political science, Political polarization, Morality, Moral foundations, Climate change, Political communication, Evolutionary psychology