How Does Individual Responsibility Perception Influence Climate Behavior? : Analyzing the Role of Blame Attribution in Climate Change Action

Abstract

This study examines how attribution patterns influence climate change response behaviors in South Korea. Analyzing data from 1,898 South Korean respondents, the research investigates the impact of external attribution (blaming others or external factors) on climate action while controlling for established predictors from risk perception paradigms and the Theory of Planned Behavior. Regression analysis confirms that external attribution negatively affects climate change response behaviors (β=-0.046, p&lt;0.01), supporting the hypothesis that attributing climate change causes and solutions to external factors reduces willingness to engage in climate-responsive actions. However, personal norms (β=0.218), sense of control (β=0.183), and knowledge (β=0.138) emerged as stronger predictors of climate action. <br>The findings suggest that effective climate communication strategies should emphasize personal responsibility and agency, enhance climate knowledge, frame climate action in terms of benefits rather than threats, and recognize existing personal responsibility rather than attempting to instill it from scratch.