Q: I am very passionate
about eco causes.
How can I even begin
to communicate
with climate-change
deniers?
Trying to connect with those
who actively oppose your
views is a good way to lose
your cool (pun intended),
but listening is a good place
to start. A hot-button
issue like climate change
may seem to present a
gulf too wide to bridge, but
research shows that there
are, in fact, productive ways
to engage with people on
the other side of an issue. For
starters, avoid adopting an
“us versus them” mentality.
The moment we stop thinking
of people as individuals
and cast them as members
of a group, we run the
risk of creating stereotypes.
Sweeping assumptions
like “They just want to ruin
the planet” and “They
of enjoyment and a deeper
feeling of connection to
others. Buying items that
show you care about
the planet signals to others
your virtue and values.
Capitalizing on eco-conscious
consumers’ eagerness to do
good, feel good, and look
good means marketers are
working overtime to convince
us to buy green products. But
if you already own three pairs
of yoga pants, buying that
fair-trade, recycled-plastic-
bottle fourth pair isn’t really
helping the environment.
Take out the word green
from green products—and you
are still left with ...products.
“Green materialism” (coined
by researcher Sabrina
Helm at the University of
Arizona) is still materialism.
Advertisers pressure us
to acquire more eco-friendly
items, but, from a sustain-
ability perspective, reducing
consumption is key. So,
a better strategy is repairing
(not replacing) older items,
getting only what you need,
and avoiding impulse buys.
Plus, contrary to what most
ads tell us, research shows
that buying less makes us
happier and more satisfied
with our lives. Bottom
line: Acquiring less really
is more—and it’s good
for your wallet, the world,
and all of our well-being.
only care about themselves”
limit the possibility of a
dialogue. When we actually
talk to individuals about
their opinions and, more
important, hear what
they’re saying, we create an
opportunity to engage.
It’s tempting to just rattle
off statistics and cite studies
about how climate change is
melting icebergs and endan-
gering turtles, but facts don’t
necessarily change minds.
People have reasons for their
beliefs, and those reasons
aren’t always obvious. Try
asking about their values, and
seek common ground. For
instance, if the person’s chief
concern is what opportunities
will be available for grandkids,
explain how renewable energy
is generating lots of jobs.
Another point to keep in
mind when encouraging
others to be more environmen-
tally conscious: Guilt doesn’t
work. It often backfires;
people get defensive when
they’re told they should feel
guilty about not making more
sustainable choices. Data from
Columbia University’s Center
for Research on Environmen-
tal Decisions found that
highlighting their pride is a
more effective approach.
Reminding someone that he or
she can make a real difference
is more powerful motivation.
Q: I buy only green
products these days,
including things
I didn’t even know I
needed. While I like
being environmentally
conscious, I worry
I’m overdoing it and
contributing to
the waste problem.
It feels good to go green. For
real: Research shows that
using eco-friendly products
creates a warm glow known
as the green-consumption
effect—a heightened sense
SAMANTHA BOARDMAN IS
A CLINICAL INSTRUCTOR IN
PSYCHIATRY AND AN ASSISTANT
ATTENDING PSYCHIATRIST
AT WEILL CORNELL MEDICAL
COLLEGE IN NEW YORK
AND THE FOUNDER OF
POSITIVEPRESCRIPTION.COM.DEAR SAMANTHA
Our go-to psychiatrist on conversing thoughtfully with
climate-change skeptics and the catch-22 of sustainable shopping
115 MARIECLAIRE.COM April 2020
Q&A
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