From feeling to doing in social dilemmas: Emotional and behavioral responses to climate change.

This article examines the climate crisis through the lens of a social dilemma, presenting three key propositions.<br/>Proposition 1 posits that climate change involves a conflict between short-term self-interest and longer-term<br/>collective interest, influencing both affective and behavioral responses. Our analysis connects social dilemmas<br/>with emotion theory to suggest when, how, and which individual and collective-level emotions may arise when<br/>facing climate change. Proposition 2 categorizes these emotions into two types: understanding-oriented<br/>emotions, which are mental states focused on the broader circumstances and impacts of the climate crisis,<br/>and action-oriented emotions, which are moral and social emotions guiding future actions. Proposition 3<br/>asserts that “feeling is for doing,” as we draw on existing research to identify affective states that may promote<br/>cooperative, proenvironmental behavior. Acknowledging that evidence is mixed and other factors influence<br/>the transition from emotion to action, we hope to highlight key directions and inspire future research on the<br/>role of emotions in fostering proenvironmental behavior.