USA Caught in ‘Spiral of Silence’ on Climate Policy: Grist

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In fact, at least two-thirds of Americans support all of these [climate] policies, according to polling from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, and some policies, like renewables on public lands, have the support of four-fifths of the country.

But what happens if people aren’t aware of this support?

They may think their opinions are unpopular, making them less likely to express those thoughts to their friends and family — which can lead to something called a “spiral of silence.”

“People conform to their perception of social norms, even when those perceptions are wrong,” Sparkman said.

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