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Research Paper | Psychology | Volume 15 Issue 4, April 2026 | Pages: 1567 - 1574 | India
Eco-Anxiety and Willful Ignorance: Cognitive barriers to Pro-Environmental Behaviour
Abstract: As ecological crises intensify, individuals increasingly experience eco-anxiety- the persistent fear associated with environmental degradation. This paper considers eco-anxiety and associated feelings as a necessary and normal reaction to evidence-based information, and the ecology we live in. The phenomenon was analysed with respect to the Willful Ignorance displayed by the subjects to maintain an affective-behavioural-cognitive comfort. A sample of 75 subjects were collected of all genders and age ranging from 19 to 60 years. Hogg's Eco Anxiety Scale was administered along with a qualitatively derived Willful Ignorance Questionnaire to measure the relationship between these phenomena. Pro-Environmental Activism was analysed using qualitative methodology. Subscales of Eco Anxiety were correlated with factors of Willful Ignorance to surmise that Affective Anxiety results in advocacy-type activism, while Rumination, Behavioural and Personal impact-based Activism resulted in small-scale and large-scale movements. Significant relationship was found among deniers and subscales of Eco-Anxiety, evidencing that participants reject information about the ecology to conveniently remain anxiety free, ergo avoiding climate action. The paper aims to reframe eco-anxiety as a shared, actionable signal for a better climate and psychological harmony rather than a pathology.
Keywords: climate change, eco-anxiety, pro- environmental behaviour, willful ignorance, eco-activism
How to Cite?: Keerthana Purandaran, Mayukha Anumula, "Eco-Anxiety and Willful Ignorance: Cognitive barriers to Pro-Environmental Behaviour", Volume 15 Issue 4, April 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1567-1574, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26424183219, DOI: https://dx.dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26424183219