Dr. Sonja Grelle is part of the working group Social and Environmental Psychology.
Social Psychology
I Connect Psychology and Politics
When should the state intervene with laws and taxes to combat climate change? Sonja Grelle explores such questions at the intersection of psychology and politics.
I connect psychology and politics: Why do some Germans say “Yes, intervene!” when it comes to the carbon tax or the phase-out of combustion engine vehicles, while others see it as overbearing control? I investigate when and why people accept political measures – especially in the fight against climate change. Together with Wilhelm Hofmann, I have developed the Integrative Public Policy Acceptance Model in 2024.
The key factor is the desire for state intervention itself. This desire grows with trust in government and awareness of the climate crisis. When it is strongly developed, people accept measures that significantly impact their daily lives – such as laws and taxes – which are exactly what we need at the systemic level to effectively counter climate change.
Politicians should therefore take action early on, in addition to developing fair and effective measures: By raising awareness of the problem and building trust among the public, they can foster precisely the desire for government intervention that will later make climate policy acceptable to a majority.
