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Morgan A. Chester, PsyD is a 2024 graduate of the PsyD Program in Clinical Psychology at Antioch University, Seattle.

Dissertation Committee

Dana Waters, PsyD, ABPP, Committee Chair

Abigail Martin, PsyD, Committee Member

Melissa Kennedy, PhD, Committee Member

Keywords

climate denial, climate change, privilege, intersectionality, feminism, power, NIMBY, settler colonialism, colonialism, patriarchy, hegemonic masculinity, ableism, white supremacy, social interest, dysconsciousness, theoretical analysis, psychology

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Date

2024

Abstract

The present study investigates the phenomenon of climate denial through a new theoretical framework of privilege. The analysis utilizes a feminist orientation that builds on a historical interpretation through the lens of colonialism. Through the dissection of current multidisciplinary understandings of climate denial and new concepts discovered in the review of academic literature and popular media, a compilation of theory, relationship, and connection is made. Systems of power and privilege are examined and connected to the mechanisms and maintenance of climate denial. The resulting analysis illuminates that settler colonialism, supported by connected ideologies of White supremacy, ableism, and patriarchy inform the creation and perpetuation of climate denialism. Privileges grant invisibility, insulation from climate change and discomfort, and innocence in the maintenance of climate denial and subsequent power structures. Implications of communication and dismantling climate denial and systems of power are discussed. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu) and OhioLINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu).

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Morgan A. Chester, PsyD, 2024

ORCID Scholar ID# 0009-0001-8339-5305

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