A social science approach to global warming denialism--Part 1

by: Paul Rosenberg

Sat Jan 09, 2010 at 12:30

On Dec 29, Daniel wrote a diary, "Why the right denies anthropogenic climate change", in which he said:

What's really happening is that anthropogenic climate change is a fundamental assault on right wing ideology and the solution requires a worldwide implementation of liberal policies that will undercut right wing ideas at every level well into the future. Right wingers maybe do not grasp this fear consciously, but intuitively everything about this issue stinks for them. Denial is the only way to save their worldview.

At the time, I responded with a comment stressing conservative identity over ideology:

You're Too Logical

All the above would be true if conservatives really understood it, but they do not. Most importantly, the "instinctively feel" version, which you present, doesn't really improve the argument. It only creates our own "just so" story. (Or a "rational reconstruction" of irrational attitudes, if you will.)