Photography and the environment : a social dilemma

Abstract

The overall aim of this study is to explore how people’s attitudes towards environmental degradation are affected by external factors, and why the issue is not prioritized despite the spread of awareness in our age. To address the aim of this research, the objectives were to find out if psychological distance played a significant role in shaping people attitudes, if awareness campaigns truly worked and evaluating which types of environmental photography, positive or negative, worked best to affect people’s perceptions. In order to find out the answer of these objectives, a quantitative research method in form of a questionnaire was sent out to a random sample of participants, asking about their awareness towards environmental degradation and what seems to affect their perception. In total, a sample of 106 participants responded, from various age groups. The key findings were that psychological distance affected the way the participants reacted to the severity of environmental issues. Majority of the participants over 30 were psychologically distant compared to the younger population. Awareness campaigns work best on individuals aged 20-30. Lastly, negative images of the environment seem to have a bigger impact on people’s attitudes.