Virtual Reality Experiences to Promote Environmental Climate Citizenship
Abstract:
Virtual reality (VR) experiences have the potential to address the psychological barriers associated with climate change and are a rapidly evolving field of study. Thus far, researchers have explored how the medium’s affordances of immersion, presence, and embodiment can result in psychological and behavioral changes with regard to the environment such as a greater connection to wildlife via body transfer, enhanced learning on climate change-related topics through active VR content exploration, and higher support for proenvironmental policies via immersive exposure to nature. This chapter begins with a general overview of the psychological dimensions of climate change and environmental citizenship before delving deeper into the current literature on the psychology of VR for promoting environmental citizenship through its four principles of (i) protecting nature, (ii) preserving biodiversity, (iii) adopting environment-friendly habits and behaviors, and (iv) supporting environmental policies. It concludes by outlining possible future research avenues in the intersection of the psychology of climate change mitigation and adaptation and virtual reality.