I've blogged about global warming and enviropsychology before, but here's some fantastic new research. French psychologist Nicolas Gueguen has shown that the presence of dead plants increases people belief and awareness of global warming.
60 Participants were asked to fill out a current affairs questionnaire, which included four questions questioning the validity or evidence of global warming. The questionnaires were identical, as were the rooms - apart from one big difference. Half the participants were in the presence of a luscious green small tree, the others were joined by a convincingly dead version of the same plant. A follow up control study was later conducted, in which no tree was present in the room.
The result? Those with a live tree in the room exhibited no difference to the control study, but those with the dead plant showed significantly more belief in global warming.
It should be noted that no participant realised the aim of the study. Gueguen has concluded that perhaps the sight of a dead tree triggered subconscious thoughts of conditions linked to global warming - such as extreme weather, drought and famine.
The implications? Its been suggested that dead trees could be placed in public toilets to attempt to reduce water consumption...and that a picture of a dead tree could be used in awareness-raising environmental campaigns.
Could it not be rolled out everywhere? Would dead trees not encourage recycling if pasted onto the side of rubbish-bins, could they not help prevent litter if plastered onto telegraph poles...could they reduce petrol-wasting driving if hanging from the rear-view mirror?
It might sound laughable. It might sound sinister or childish. But if the consciousness of a country can't make a big enough change, then is it not time to tap into the subconscious?
Psychology once again showing the versatility, wide-ranging relevance and forward-thinking tendencies that make it a truly modern science!
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