Krug, Hajek & Kobilke: Collaborative Negotiation of Reactance in Climate Activism. Freedom Restoration Strategies in Face-to-Face Interactions

Abstract: Climate change has become a central topic in contemporary societal debates, often emphasizing the urgent need for collective action by mobilizing emotional categories. One measure individuals can take to benefit Earth’s climate is to limit practices that produce greenhouse gases, but it is largely unknown whether this willingness to self-restrict translates into actual behavior. This paper addresses this question through an audiovisual study in which participants are presented with a fictional Instagram post discussing the link between smartphone use and greenhouse gas emissions. Using conversation analysis, the data reveal that despite a high theoretical willingness to restrict their media consumption for the sake of the climate, participants experienced cognitive-emotional dissonance in practice. This can be understood through psychological reactance theory, in which efforts to raise awareness about climate change paradoxically result in negative behavioral responses. Consistent with this theory, participants seek strategies to restore their personal freedom by reframing the situation to regain their sense of agency and minimize personal implications to mitigate feelings of reactance.