Abstract

We examine climate-related activities through an evolutionary psychology lens, zooming in on factors that motivate or discourage people to behave sustainably to mitigate climate change. Complementing current knowledge, we discuss five core ancestral psychological motivations that shape people’s environmental decisions in fundamental ways. We review recent studies that explore how evolved psychological mechanisms related to self-interest, status, self-protection, temporal discounting, and social imitation can be used to promote pro-environmental behavior. We discuss potential strengths and limitations of evolutionary-based behavioral interventions, and briefly reflect on outstanding research questions that can further the integration of evolutionary approaches into mainstream environmental psychology.