Why Our Brains are Wired to Ignore Climate Change | George Marshall | Talks at Google

"Don't Even Think About It: Why Our Brains are Wired to Ignore Climate Change"

What is the psychological mechanism that allows us to know something is true but act as if it is not? And how is it possible that when presented with overwhelming evidence, even the evidence of our own eyes, we can deliberately ignore something while being entirely aware that this is what we are doing? In DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Ignore Climate Change,George Marshall, world renowned for his work in research and campaigning for environmental organizations, shows readers that even when we accept that climate change is a dire problem, our human brains are wired to ignore it, but argues that we can overcome this.

Pondering these questions over the years, Marshall began to see climate change in an entirely new light: not as a media battle of science versus vested interests or truth versus fiction, but as the ultimate challenge to our ability to make sense of the world around us. More than any other issue it exposes the deepest workings of our minds, and shows our extraordinary and innate talent for seeing only what we want to see and disregarding what we would prefer not to know.

After speaking with the world’s leading experts in psychology, economics, risk assessment, linguistics, cultural anthropology, and evolutionary psychology, Marhsall confirms that humans are wired to respond strongest to threats that are visible, immediate, have historical precedent or direct personal impact, and are caused by an “enemy.” Climate change is none of these—it’s invisible, unprecedented, drawn out, impacts us indirectly, and is caused by us. Taking the reader deep into our evolutionary origins, Marshall argues that once we understand what excites, threatens, and motivates us, we can rethink and reimagine climate change. In the end, Don’t Even Think About It is both about climate change and about the qualities that make us human: our limitations, our strengths, and how we can grow as we deal with the greatest challenge we have ever faced.

[floatingsara]

This presentation should have so many more views

[desiiaviator]

Book written by George Marshall about the same subject is very illuminating...

[russellmason]

I really enjoyed the talk and the book. I agree that we're all responsible for the problem but clearly not equally so. When you say that there's no enemy that is responsible for climate change, I can't really agree with you. The lion's share of the blame lies with oil companies, and the equivalent of the secret memo of Kim Jongun would be the research they commissioned that proved decades ago that climate change was real, and despite knowing this, they paid for massive disinformation campaigns. For me, this is the worst kind of villainy. In addition, the super rich oligarchic classes with their private jets and other frequent flyers are disproportionately to blame, and of course our governments who let them get away with it. This behavior should not be excused, and we cannot deal with this problem in any meaningful way without understanding the damage they have done and continue to do and stopping them from doing it.

[draugami]

Are we a product of our brains? How can we, who are biased, transcend our biases?

[thezenfarmer]

Excellent presentation. Shared. Much thanks

[skibitom]

Excellent presentation. Sometimes controversial .

[floatingsara]

30:00 go directly here to get a whole new way to communicate climate change 🎉

[hysanify]

You're Google. Couldn't you find a way to make questioners' voice audible?

[fireofenergy]

Excellent presentation! I like the part suggesting that more people would be compelled to do something about it if it was north Korea's fault. Since it is all our fault, we should be even more compelled (but wouldn't it be so easy for both party polarizations to agree on "solution" if just n k's fault).
Speaking of the real probability that mere party polarization may in fact destroy the biosphere because of denial and all the social psychology, don't the "right" believe in God? I believe and i'm not republican (and also not into the churchy stuff). Therefore, there is NO EXCUSE to not try to become actively engaged in whatever solutions necessary to save the biosphere that God created for us (through evolution). Now, if the world was created in 7 days, if be even more concerned because there wouldn't be any of this "it's ok because the climate had changed before" silliness. Thus evolution itself makes it easier for skeptics to deny (realize that the world was a completely different place billions of years ago).
Also, I believe the right are very family orientated - i am (and I'm not republican). Therefore we all should care about the world we give them.
My newly found message is that both sides have to find a common ground that is obvious that both believe and value, yet I've always wondered why conservatives would be less inclined to care when more of a percentage of the left would abandon their children (the right hates abortion, the left promotes it, for example, i hate it, but I'm not republican). You see, it is my job to turn things around to their respectful position and then ask "Why all the ass backwards polarization NONSENSE concerning scientists findings especially that EVERYBODY believes the scientist about ALL other matters"

[mirusvet]

Sounds like the homework I know I have to do :)

ps. Going back to 70s with accumulated knowledge would be /wrist. This is part of evolution so lets keep on trying!

[samBrianKiseka]

George had just the psycho narrative I was hoping for!

[opnwndo]

Lol..knows all about a planet we haven't even finished exploring, and understands human mentality all over the world....yeah...ok.

[DJLizzyB]

Why because I 🐥 chuck1/2 eaten fruit and vegetables and 🍟 for birds to eat touched by my ocd unclean fingers? (blame ocd mom)

[bubbajones]

This quack doesn't seem to know basic psychology.