Exploring the association between growth mindsets and climate action with young people

Inkeri Rissanen, Elina Kuusisto, Essi Aarnio-Linnanvuori, Rosamund Portus, Sara-Jayne Williams, Sophie Laggan, Kathy Reilly, Mari-Pauliina Vainikainen

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Abstract

Decades of research has demonstrated the power of growth mindsets (i.e. belief in the malleability of the qualities of humans) to shape people’s ways of making sense of their socio-cultural reality and influence their ways of thinking about and acting towards change. Yet, research which connects mindsets with climate action or sustainability behavior remains scarce. This study explores the association between mindsets and climate action among European young people. Our findings, based on statistical analyses of survey data from Tampere (Finland), Genoa (Italy), Galway (Ireland) and Bristol (United Kingdom) (N = 1,814), indicate that growth mindsets about persons and groups are associated with some dimensions of climate action.1 However, the results also showed that the dimensions of climate actions are understood in slightly different ways in different countries, possibly because of contextual differences. Developing and researching locally adapted approaches to cultivate growth mindsets in climate change education is recommended.

Original languageEnglish
JournalSocial Psychology of Education
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 16 Jul 2024
Publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

Keywords

  • Climate action
  • Climate change education
  • Growth mindset
  • Value-action gap
  • Young people

Publication forum classification

  • Publication forum level 1

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Social Psychology
  • Education
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Sociology and Political Science

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