The Role of Cultural Worldviews in the Risk Perception and Denial of Climate Change

This study analyzed the effect of cultural worldviews on risk perception and denial of climate change through an online survey. We found that individualistic worldviews significantly affect individuals’ climate change risk perceptions, even when we controlled demographic and psychological factors. However, our analysis also indicated that cultural worldviews alone do not significantly impact on climate change denial, rather interactions with collective efficacy and uncertainty is significant in this regard. Specifically, among individuals with higher levels of uncertainty, those with higher hierarchical tendencies were more likely to deny climate change than those with lower hierarchical tendencies. Meanwhile, among individuals with low collective efficacy, those with higher hierarchical tendencies were more likely to deny climate change than those with lower hierarchical tendencies. This paper concludes by discussing the results from the perspective of the Korean context and explaining the practical implications of our findings for policymakers and climate change communicators.