Temporal Framing, Perspective Taking, and Sustainable Intentions
Summary
Climate change communication presents a significant and pressing challenge for social and
scientific spheres alike. One major barrier in promoting climate concern and sustainable
behaviour change is psychological distance, i.e., the perception that climate change is distant
from oneself in the here and now. Temporal distance may prove particularly interesting in risk
analysis research, considering the current focus on future predictions in communication
strategies. Overcoming temporal distance, however, requires tailored, interactive interventions.
The present study adapts and combines two methods from previous research by comparing
current frames in perspective-taking scenarios vs. future and control frames and their influence
on sustainable attitudes and intentions. Participants (n = 73) were recruited via convenience
sampling and assigned to read one of three perspective-taking vignettes: current (year 2023),
future (year 2050) or control (neutral subject). All data was collected via an online questionnaire
which included items on demographics, temporal distance, sustainable intentions, hopefulness,
and concerns about climate change. Our analyses found only small and nonsignificant
differences between temporal framing groups for both concerns and sustainable intentions. An
exploratory analysis based on self-reported temporal distance did, however, find a significant
effect on general sustainable motivation through concerns but no effect on intentions to reduce
meat-eating. Low hopefulness scores were found to moderate the interactions between temporal
framing, concerns, and sustainable intentions. This research provides important insights
regarding the importance and malleability of temporal distance, as well the inflexibility of meateating, and the potential role of hopefulness in climate change communication and mitigatio