New Science Shows Why Some People Just Don't Care About Climate
What if the real obstacle to climate action isn't just political polarization, misinformation, or economic inertia—but personality?
A recent study from Dalhousie University suggests that personality traits—specifically those associated with the so-called 'Dark Triad' of narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy—may significantly influence whether someone believes climate change is real.
It's a striking idea. Not just that our politics shape our perception of science, but that the architecture of our psychology might help determine whether we accept or reject climate change altogether.
The study, led by political scientist Scott Pruysers and published in Climatic Change, surveyed more than 1,700 Canadians and asked them to rank agreement with statements like 'Climate change is a scam' or 'Government should do more to address climate change.' Then it compared these answers to participants' self-assessed personality traits—using more than 160 descriptors to build out a detailed psychological profile.
The results were sobering: 22% of Canadians surveyed agreed that human-caused climate change is exaggerated, and over 10% disagreed that government should be doing more to address it. Those most skeptical of climate change scored higher on scales associated with narcissism (self-importance), Machiavellianism (manipulativeness), and psychopathy (callousness). In contrast, climate believers were more likely to show traits like honesty, emotionality, openness, and humility.
In other words, it's not just what you believe about climate change that matters—it's who you are. People with more empathy believe in climate change; people who lack it, don't.
We're used to thinking about climate skepticism as a product of ideology, disinformation, or economic interest—and those things matter, deeply. The study acknowledges this too. In fact, the biggest single predictor of climate denial wasn't personality, but political ideology: those on the right of the spectrum were far more likely to reject climate science than those on the left. Men were more skeptical than women. Education and income also helped shape belief.
But here's the twist: the second strongest predictor of climate skepticism was not age, education, or income. It was openness—a personality trait associated with curiosity, creativity, and willingness to consider new ideas. That means the shape of your character may be more determinative than your diploma or your paycheck when it comes to how you think about the planet's future.
This matters, because climate action is not just a technological problem—it's a human one. As the world races to decarbonize, behavioral change is becoming just as critical as innovation. And if personality plays a role in shaping belief, then it also influences whether people are willing to make sacrifices, adopt greener habits, or vote for climate-forward policies.
There's no vaccine for narcissism. We can't legislate openness. You can't change people's personalities. But we can design systems and messages that meet people where they are.
Advances in artificial intelligence—particularly in analyzing social media behavior—could allow for micro-targeted communications tailored to personality types. That could mean, for example, emphasizing the status signaling of eco-friendly behavior to appeal to narcissists ('drive this EV to show you're ahead of the curve'), or using stories of personal harm and community disruption to engage those who may not respond to statistics.
In fact, we already do this—just not systematically. Advertisers have long known that emotion and identity sell more than facts. The climate movement, historically grounded in scientific consensus and future-oriented morality, is starting to adopt this logic. Climate-conscious brands now market solar panels and electric cars not just as responsible choices, but as aspirational ones. Policymakers are experimenting with incentives and social norms to drive change.
To be clear: this doesn't mean all climate skeptics are sociopaths. The study doesn't pathologize individuals—it works on a spectrum. Most of us have at least a few drops of the Dark Triad in us, just as we all have moments of altruism or doubt. But it does mean that the old model—present data, expect belief—isn't enough.
The climate crisis is a test of our technologies, our institutions, and increasingly, our psychologies. If we want to reach the remaining skeptics, we may need to stop preaching and start profiling—not to divide, but to understand. The planet doesn't care why you act, only that you do. But to get there, we need to understand who doesn't care—and why.
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