Article Accepted Manuscript

Being positively moved by climate protest predicts peaceful collective action

Author(s) / Creator(s)

Landmann, Helen
Naumann, Jascha

Abstract / Description

People can be motivated to engage in collective action for climate protection because they are angry about an injustice or because they are emotionally moved by the idea that they can achieve something together. However, previous research on emotions and collective action has not distinguished between being positively and being negatively moved and between normative and non-normative collective action. To address this gap, we conducted a field study in Germany with activists and non-activists of Fridays for Future (N = 223). Participants reported their appraisals, feelings and intentions related to the climate crisis and the Fridays for Future protests. Being positively moved predicted intentions to engage in normative collective action (signing petitions, participating in demonstrations) but not intentions to participate in non-normative collective action (involving damage to property or risk of personal injury). Being negatively moved did not significantly predict either of these collective action intentions. This suggests that the motivational effect of being moved on collective action is specific to being positively moved and to normative collective action. Acceptance of non-normative collective action was predicted by perceptions of injustice and low collective efficacy beliefs. Thus, non-normative collective action for climate protection seems to be considered when peaceful protest is perceived as ineffective.

Keyword(s)

pro-environmental collective action positive emotions being moved collective efficacy injustice appraisals

Persistent Identifier

Date of first publication

2023-09-05

Journal title

Global Environmental Psychology

Publisher

PsychArchives

Publication status

acceptedVersion

Review status

reviewed

Is version of

Citation

Landmann, H., & Naumann, J. (in press). Being positively moved by climate protest predicts peaceful collective action [Accepted manuscript]. Global Environmental Psychology. https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.13186
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Landmann, Helen
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Naumann, Jascha
  • PsychArchives acquisition timestamp
    2023-09-05T09:52:23Z
  • Made available on
    2023-09-05T09:52:23Z
  • Date of first publication
    2023-09-05
  • Abstract / Description
    People can be motivated to engage in collective action for climate protection because they are angry about an injustice or because they are emotionally moved by the idea that they can achieve something together. However, previous research on emotions and collective action has not distinguished between being positively and being negatively moved and between normative and non-normative collective action. To address this gap, we conducted a field study in Germany with activists and non-activists of Fridays for Future (N = 223). Participants reported their appraisals, feelings and intentions related to the climate crisis and the Fridays for Future protests. Being positively moved predicted intentions to engage in normative collective action (signing petitions, participating in demonstrations) but not intentions to participate in non-normative collective action (involving damage to property or risk of personal injury). Being negatively moved did not significantly predict either of these collective action intentions. This suggests that the motivational effect of being moved on collective action is specific to being positively moved and to normative collective action. Acceptance of non-normative collective action was predicted by perceptions of injustice and low collective efficacy beliefs. Thus, non-normative collective action for climate protection seems to be considered when peaceful protest is perceived as ineffective.
    en_US
  • Publication status
    acceptedVersion
    en_US
  • Review status
    reviewed
    en_US
  • Citation
    Landmann, H., & Naumann, J. (in press). Being positively moved by climate protest predicts peaceful collective action [Accepted manuscript]. Global Environmental Psychology. https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.13186
    en_US
  • ISSN
    2750-6630
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/8679
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.13186
  • Language of content
    eng
    en_US
  • Publisher
    PsychArchives
    en_US
  • Is version of
    https://doi.org/10.5964/gep.11113
  • Is related to
    https://osf.io/jfqht/
  • Keyword(s)
    pro-environmental collective action
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    positive emotions
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    being moved
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    collective efficacy
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    injustice appraisals
    en_US
  • Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)
    150
  • Title
    Being positively moved by climate protest predicts peaceful collective action
    en_US
  • DRO type
    article
    en_US
  • Journal title
    Global Environmental Psychology
    en_US
  • Visible tag(s)
    PsychOpen GOLD
    en_US
  • Visible tag(s)
    Accepted Manuscript
    en_US