THE VERDICT ON THIS ASSUMPTION: True
We hear a lot about the importance of being “positive’ and how people want to feel hopeful. Much of the research on thinking positively comes from health and sports psychology. This research suggests when people are informed about a serious health threat or sports challenge, they are relieved to hear of a hopeful treatment or technique. Similarly, for those who worry about environmental issues, knowing that promising solutions are available prompts broader engagement.
By holding up a vision of a positive future with clear instructions on what to do, people can become empowered to act 1 . For people concerned about climate change, potential positive images might include cleaner energy, stories of vibrant community responses to climate impacts, profiles of individuals involved in climate campaigns, or more efficient and comfortable transportation options 2 . The ingredients for supporting a hopeful outlook are substantial and achievable goals, pathways thinking, and agency (or efficacy).
Frames Associated with This Assumption:
There is no question that people are highly motivated by a sense of hope. As the researcher Daniel Pink has noted, the most powerful motivations for change are not incentives or fear, but the human need for autonomy, mastery and purpose. Tapping into these core needs lends to messaging about what we can do, and how it connects with our sense of purpose and having impact (mastery).
Identifying substantive and achievable goals is essential; unattainable goals are almost always demoralizing. Conversely, goals seen as too easy or inevitable also lower motivation 1 . Pathways thinking involves envisioning a set of alternative routes to the desired goals, enhancing the perceived likelihood of attaining the goals in question. For instance, climate advocates are using pathways thinking when we outline the many different clean energy solutions (wind, solar, energy efficiency, etc) that can be used to achieve the goal of reducing carbon emissions. In fact, emphasizing the fact that there is no “one single solution” but many, is mobilizing and supports engagement and agency.
Agency refers to people's sense of having efficacy to enact changes. People must believe that the desired outcome is attainable, and their efforts will make a difference. This is both a challenge and opportunity for climate advocacy; in some cases, we may not see the immediate impacts of our actions. However, making it clear what our actions may do, and highlighting that we may not see those results for some time, is valuable when inviting people to participate or engage in climate actions.
A sense of community or group support, a sense of control over one’s circumstances, and frequent feedback about progress are other things that lead to a more hopeful and positive orientation in individuals 2 . These things enable people to be more likely to take action, and their actions are more likely to be effective. In the words of one researcher, “fostering true hope is not about erasing fears or doubts, but facing reality full on…" with clear vision, tools, and resolve 3 .
Addressing climate change with a hope-based approach does present some unique challenges. It is essential that integrating hopeful messages does not lead to a sugarcoated or “rah-rah” sentiment that glosses over both limitations of individual actions and false expectations. As noted by some researchers 4 , the global scale of climate problems and the types of actions that most individuals are able to take (changing light bulbs, etc.) makes it difficult for individuals to believe that their actions can make a difference – calling into question a reliance on hope-based approaches.
A potential solution is to balance “hope” and positivity with emphasizing what certain actions can do. In other words, “people are more likely to feel empowered to take action when they can see that their personal, workplace, or community goals and actions connect to a hierarchy of higher level and higher impact goals (e.g., a community or small group effort to be carbon neutral or produce zero waste)” 5 . Emphasizing the group and collective nature of these challenges and responses helps people not to focus on their limitations as individuals.
- Focus on the vision instead of the threats. What is the group working toward, rather than trying to avoid?
- Develop a visual image of the way that individual efforts tie into the larger efforts of the team or community using a tree chart or diagram.
- Redefine the scale of the problem but break it into bite sized chunks.
- Let people know that they are part of a larger movement.
- Set challenging but attainable goals in collaboration with the group.
- Monitor progress and provide feedback so people are aware of how they are doing 8 .
- Develop integrated, balanced messaging that includes hope, positive messages and sober, honest acknowledgement of our predicaments 9
