Cultural beliefs of time orientation and social self-construal: Influences on climate change adaptation.

Jon-Vegard Dokken,Dewald Van Niekerk,Ruth A Loubser,Aida C Terblanche-Greeff

doi:10.4102/jamba.v10i1.510

Jon-Vegard Dokken, Dewald Van Niekerk + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4102/jamba.v10i1.510

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Abstract

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges humankind faces and adaptive behaviour is an imperative response to such change. Culture and the resulting worldview are determinants of behaviour and eminent cultural beliefs are that of time orientation (TO) and social self-construal (SSC). To date, no research focuses on these beliefs from an indigenous South African perspective or the manner in which it may subsequently affect a community’s adaptation towards climate change. Q-methodology was used to study perspectives and beliefs in three peri-urban communities in South Africa and to investigate the interrelation between themes such as TO, SSC, climate change awareness and climate change causality. It became apparent that the communities are aware of climate change, yet little to no efforts are currently being made to adapt to climatic change. This absence of motivation to adapt may be attributed to limited risk perception and cultural beliefs of TO and SSC. This study aims to contribute to the understanding of cultural beliefs and its impact on climate change adaptation behaviour in the South African context. It is concluded that TO and SSC from an indigenous South African perspective influence community adaptation to climate change.

Highlights

In the last two decades, disasters that are worsened by climate change and induced by anthropogenic or natural hazards continue to ‘claim millions of lives, affect billions of people, and cause trillions in economic losses’ (Van Niekerk & Terblanché-Greeff 2017:3)
Of the 40 Q-sort statements selected from the concourse, 12 statements were identified to enable the investigation of Afro-polychronism (TO and social selfconstrual (SSC)) and the possible impact thereof on climate change adaptation
Abductions are based on the relevant factor arrays of Q-sort statements; the correlation between the factor arrays of various Q-sort statements; the analysis of the five factors and the narrative description thereof; and qualitative accounts provided by the respondents

Summary

Introduction

In the last two decades, disasters that are worsened by climate change and induced by anthropogenic or natural hazards continue to ‘claim millions of lives, affect billions of people, and cause trillions in economic losses’ (Van Niekerk & Terblanché-Greeff 2017:3). Humans are in essence culturally orientated and a society’s culture is embedded in all social spheres For this reason, the actions of a community’s members will be determined by its collective cultural beliefs, and such sociocultural traits will greatly influence adaptive behaviour regarding climate change (Adger et al 2009; Wolf 2011). Risk identification is important as a level of risk must be perceived to encourage cognition of possible adaptive behaviour and effects (Schwarzer 1992). This is true for disaster risk reduction (DRR) efforts as the community’s cultural beliefs will determine whether risks warrant the required adaptive behaviour. The lack of justification for actions caused by the level of risk perceived can impede the community’s ability to adapt to climate change (Adger et al 2009)

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