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Climate models have always predicted more extreme weather events, including floods. Larger image. Christopher Gannon/Iowa State University
AMES, IA – A new book from researchers at Iowa State University bridges the gap between climate science and psychology by explaining how a rapidly warming planet increases aggression and violence.
“Climate Change and Human Behavior” maps out how hotter temperatures and more frequent and severe weather events can directly and indirectly alter the way people think and interact with others. The authors draw on decades of research to show how these effects can lead to civil war, political unrest, and other forms violence. They suggest that addressing these issues early could help mitigate some of the longer-term costs.
“One of our goals with this book was to outline some of the human costs that are on our doorstep and how core psychological concepts can be used to reduce both the amount of global warming and human violence problems that arise from the climate crisis,” said Distinguished Professor of Psychology Craig A. Anderson who co-authored the book with Andreas Miles-Novelo, an Iowa State psychology graduate student.
Hotter temperatures directly impact thoughts, and behavior
According to the authors, high temperatures cause the brain’s resources to be diverted to other areas of the body to cool down. This causes brain areas to not function at their full potential, which makes it more difficult for people to process new information, manage emotions, and control impulses. Hot people also perceive others as being aggressive, which increases the likelihood of hostile confrontations.
“Heat stress primes people to act more aggressively,” said Anderson. “We can see this play out on a larger scale across geographic regions and over time.”
The authors repeatedly found that violent crime rates are higher in hotter areas of the United States and around the globe, even after controlling for other risk factors such as poverty and age distribution. Anderson led much of the research that showed a strong correlation between violent crime and hotter times. Murder, rape and assault rates in America were higher during hotter seasons, months, and years.
Climate change has indirect effects on aggression, violence, and other forms of aggression.
The book highlighted a solid body of developmental research showing that poor pre-and post-natal nutrition is a predictor for being convicted of violent crimes as an adult. Stress in childhood (e.g., living with poverty or in a violent area, family separation, economic and/or housing instability, displacement) can also cause adverse cognitive outcomes and emotional outcomes. These factors can increase the likelihood of engaging in violence-prone behaviors.
“What struck me when I really started delving into this a decade or so ago was how many of the risk factors for adulthood violence are going to become much more common as a result of rapid climate change,” said Anderson.
According to the authors, climate change will cause more frequent and severe droughts, wildfires and floods, as well as increase the risk of poverty and economic instability. This can lead to mass migrations to areas with greater resources (e.g., better pasture land, cities with higher jobs), which can lead (or not) to competition for resources.
“This is a little oversimplified, but the civil war in Syria started with an extreme drought. A large proportion of the rural population moved to cities in search of jobs, food and water, but an already unstable government did not prepare for the influx of people, which led to competition over resources like jobs and housing, spurring political unrest and eventual civil war,” said co-author Miles-Novelo.
Miles-Novelo said that the violence in Syria led to mass migration to Europe, which fuelled anti-immigration movements such as those in Germany and the United Kingdom.
Don’t panic, act
The authors stressed that, no matter how grim the future of climate change may look, there are ways to mitigate its effects. They stated that one of the first steps should involve changing the narrative surrounding climate change. The authors suggested that scientists, politicians, and media outlets should help people understand the causal relationship between rapid global warming, and the threats they experience in their daily life (e.g. poverty, crime), rather than debate whether climate is real.
It is also important to shift some of the burden away from individuals and towards governments and corporations. The authors referred to a 2017 report by the Carbon Majors Database, which detailed how 100 corporations contributed 71% to global greenhouse gas emissions. Anderson and Miles Novelo believe that tackling emissions at a higher level is better than expecting individuals to solve the problem.
According to the authors, other proactive measures that can reduce the impact of climate change on individuals or communities include strengthening programs that support prenatal and postnatal nutrition. This can help offset some of violence-prone adults’ risk factors.
Anderson added that more countries, especially those with substantial resources, need to start planning for hundreds of millions – if not billions – of people who will be migrating due to environmental disasters or political unrest.
“There are issues we’re going to have to take more seriously in the U.S. and worldwide as climate change pushes more ecomigration. The problems that we’re seeing now are relatively small compared to what’s going to happen in the next 50 years,” said Anderson.
Anderson stated that governments and international organisations need to prepare for ecomigrations. Anderson said this in a positive manner. This will integrate people into communities where there is a possibility of living sustainably and makes use their talents, skills, and aspirations for the benefit of the community and their own families.
