Large-Scale Disruptive Activism Strengthened Environmental Attitudes in the United Kingdom

Abstract: The 2019 London Extinction Rebellion was the first attempt by environmental protesters to create prolonged large-scale disruption in a Western capital city. The effects on public opinion were difficult to predict because protests seen as extreme can reduce support, but protests seen as justified can increase support. We studied longitudinal opinion changes in a nationally representative sample (n = 832) before, during, and after the rebellion, in conjunction with experimental analysis of the causal effects of media reports (n = 1441). The rebellion was longitudinally associated with national increases in environmental concern, and activist media increased dissatisfaction with current government action. Reports from different media sources caused activism intentions and support to move in different directions, contributing to longitudinally increased polarisation in attitudes to activism. The rebellion had minimal effects on belief in whether ordinary people can produce relevant cha.... https://gep.psychopen.eu/index.php/gep/article/view/11079

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Large-Scale Disruptive Activism Strengthened Environmental Attitudes in the United Kingdom ; volume:2 ; day:30 ; month:04 ; year:2024 ; Global environmental psychology ; 2 (30.04.2024)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Kenward, Ben ; Brick, Cameron

Further information

• DOI: 10.5964/gep.11079
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2406080510528.881748735726
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 14.08.2025, 10:59 AM CEST