PSYC 461 - Perceptions of Climate Change: A Study of Environmental Intentions and Resistance to Change

The objective of this study was to determine whether high intensity messages would have a stronger effect than low-intensity messages on participants intention to change in a pro environmental manor. Fear based persuasion has been thoroughly studied, and therefore was the stimulus type used in this study. The way intensity is measured in academic literature is in Message Sensation Value (MSV). Unfortunately due to the limitations of this studies parameters MSV could not be used. We did not find a significant difference between our high and low intensity message groups. In future research regarding this topic, it would be beneficial to look at different types of emotional appeals besides fear.