Adaptation task

Social psychological
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Social psychological

Approaches based on social psychological theory explain and predict behaviour through empirically-based statistical models using cognitive variables such as motivations and barriers for action. A prominent theory which underlies these approaches is Protection Motivation Theory (PMT), which posits that actors take action based on four factors: perceived severity of a threatening event, perceived probability of the occurrence, the efficacy of the recommended preventive behaviour, and the perceived self efficacy. Findings of adaptive behaviour with the support of case studies conducted in Germany and Zimbabwe show that adaptive actions taken are better explained through PMT than traditional micro-economic models of decision-making.
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Models based on social psychological theory explain behaviour through cognitive factors such motivations and barriers for action. A prominent theory which underlies these approaches is Protection Motivation Theory, which posits that actors take action based on four factors: the perceived severity of a threatening event, the perceived probability of the occurrence, the efficacy of the recommended preventive behaviour, and the perceived self efficacy (Rogers 1983). In the domain of CCVIA, Grothmann and Patt (2005) draw on Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) to explain the adaptive behaviour in case studies in Germany and Zimbabwe, finding that adaptive actions taken are better explained through PMT than traditional micro-economic models of decision-making

Question addressed

What actions will an actor take? What consequences will these action have?

Conditions of applicability

Individual decision making is, to a great extent, responsible for how climate (and their changes) affect the study unit.

Theoretical assumptions

Individuals take action based on perceived risks and perceived effectiveness of actions in reducing risks.

Steps taken

1. Select of explanatory factors based on literature 2. Identify actors and decisions

Results achieved

Model explaining adaptive actions. Prediction of actions in different situations.

Issues involved

Difficult to observe cognitive barriers; studies often rely on stated intentions rather than observed behaviour.

Example cases from literature

Grothmann and Patt (2005) address the question of what motivates actors to take adaptation actions in two cases of local level resources users. They investigate the role of climate information in adaptation decisionmaking in cases studies in Germany and Zimbabwe through interviews, focus groups with a group of farmers with access to climate forecast information. These observations aimed at eliciting the role of seasonal climate forecast information in crop planting decisions of farmers. It was found that an actor's perceived ability to act effectively in the face of a risk or threat as an important determinant of the action taken. Berkhout et al. (2006) address the question of how organisations adapt to climate change already occurring and projected. Based on models of organisational learning they conduct interviews and focus groups with 9 companies in the housing and water sectors in the UK aimed at how, or whether, they have reacted to climate impacts or climate information. They find adaptations to climate change, are similar in some ways to adaptations to regulatory or technological changes, however due to longer timescales of feedback to decisions related to adaptation there are differences. Business have difficulties in taking adaptive action due to the weakness in signals of climate change, and the uncertainty in regard to benefits of acting.

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Social psychological theory
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This section is based on the UNEP PROVIA guidance document

Criteria checklist

1. You want to identify adaptation measures.
2. Your focus is on public actors and on individual actions.
3. The actors' potential capacity is high, but the private actors are not adapting autonomously.
4. Adaptation would not conflict with private interests.
5. It is not succificient to describe actors and behaviours.
6. It is assumed that individuals' choice is not described by mathematical axioms.