Monday, August 17, 2009

Climate Change: The Musical

Global warming denial someday could be classed a sickness with its own DSM code, based on this American Psychological Association release earlier this month:
PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS HELP EXPLAIN SLOW REACTION TO GLOBAL WARMING, SAYS APA TASK FORCE

Report Urges Psychologists to Play Larger Role in Limiting Climate Change Effects

TORONTO-While most Americans think climate change is an important issue, they don't see it as an immediate threat, so getting people to "go green" requires policymakers, scientists and marketers to look at psychological barriers to change and what leads people to action, according to a task force of the American Psychological Association.

Scientific evidence shows the main influences of climate change are behavioral -- population growth and energy consumption. "What is unique about current global climate change is the role of human behavior," said task force chair Janet Swim, PhD, of Pennsylvania State University. "We must look at the reasons people are not acting in order to understand how to get people to act."

APA's Task Force on the Interface Between Psychology and Global Climate Change examined decades of psychological research and practice that have been specifically applied and tested in the arena of climate change, such as environmental and conservation psychology and research on natural and technological disasters. The task force presented its findings at APA's 117th Annual Convention in Toronto in a report that was accepted by the association's governing Council of Representatives.

The task force's report offers a detailed look at the connection between psychology and global climate change and makes policy recommendations for psychological science.

It cites a national Pew Research Center poll in which 75 percent to 80 percent of respondents said that climate change is an important issue. But respondents ranked it last in a list of 20 compelling issues, such as the economy or terrorism. Despite warnings from scientists and environmental experts that limiting the effects of climate change means humans need to make some severe changes now, people don't feel a sense of urgency. The task force said numerous psychological barriers are to blame.
Which reminded me of "Gee, Officer Krupke" from West Side Story:
DIESEL: (As Judge) Right!

Officer Krupke, you're really a square;
This boy don't need a judge, he needs an analyst's care!
It's just his neurosis that oughta be curbed.
He's psychologic'ly disturbed!

ACTION
I'm disturbed!

JETS
We're disturbed, we're disturbed,
We're the most disturbed,
Like we're psychologic'ly disturbed.

DIESEL: (Spoken, as Judge) In the opinion on this court, this child is depraved on account he ain't had a normal home.

ACTION: (Spoken) Hey, I'm depraved on account I'm deprived.

DIESEL: So take him to a headshrinker.
Doubtlessly, Obamacare will pay to "cure" warming skeptics.

(via Maggie's Farm)

10 comments:

OBloodyHell said...

> Doubtlessly, Obamacare will pay to "cure" warming skeptics.

And along come the Thought Police...

Wry Mouth said...

At last! A reason for re-edjication! I want to be put in barracks 13, if possible... best view. ;o/

Assistant Village Idiot said...

Well, you have to figure, who in an organization s going to sign up for the going green committee? Special Ed goes green; IT goes green; Rotary goes green; they all ask themselves "what can I do to get this already-organized bunch of people to do what I want? And what unique thing can these people do to serve my cause?"

OBloodyHell said...

> At last! A reason for re-edjication! I want to be put in barracks 13, if possible... best view. ;o/

You'll take Stalag 17 and like it :oD

@nooil4pacifists said...

Silly me for assuming the APA's cause would be psychological health. As for the re-education Stalag, put me in the one with all the liberal women.

Assistant Village Idiot said...

Carl, that's going to be a better fantasy than reality, I'm afraid.

OBloodyHell said...

> As for the re-education Stalag, put me in the one with all the liberal women.

You HAVE seen that poster comparing all the feminist leaders vs. the conservative female leaders, have you not?

...Or did you mean the one with all the conservative women?

I don't think they make it there -- they all get shot out of hand as gender traitors, with no hope of re-education.

Even liberal thought has its limits, you know.

:oD

Only From The Colonel said...

Special @ KFC this week:

The Hillary Clinton Meal -- Two fat thighs, two small breasts, and a left wing.

Only From The Colonel said...

Oop!!

Forgot the "very sharp beak"

Unknown said...

nice blog....

http://envrionment.blogspot.com