Notions of moral responsibility and ethical obligation pervade social and political discourse about climate change in Australia. However, comparatively little is known about the importance of moral considerations in people’s mitigative and adaptive behaviours. Here, we draw on Bandura’s concept of moral disengagement to explore this issue. We conducted two nationally representative online surveys, 12 months apart. Participants were 5,030 Australian residents, of whom 1,355 participated in both surveys. We found that levels of moral engagement mediate between (a) opinions about the causes of climate change and pro‐environmental behaviour, (b) individual response efficacy and pro‐environmental behaviour, and (c) responsibility for causing climate change and pro‐environmental behaviour. Moreover, people placed more responsibility on groups and organisations, and less on individuals, for both causing and responding to climate change, regardless of their opinion on the causes of climate change. Longitudinal analyses showed that those who became more sceptical about anthropogenic climate change also became less morally engaged. Relatedly, those who became less morally engaged reported feeling less guilty about climate change, though there was evidence suggesting that this relationship is bidirectional. We suggest that moral disengagement is a key mechanism through which reductions in both effortful behaviour and guilt are achieved.

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道德脱离接触对气候变化的影响

道德责任和道德义务的概念遍及澳大利亚气候变化的社会和政治话题。但是，人们对道德考虑在人们的缓解和适应行为中的重要性了解甚少。在这里，我们借鉴班杜拉的道德脱离接触的概念来探讨这个问题。我们进行了两次全国性的在线调查，相隔12个月。参加者为5,030名澳大利亚居民，其中1,355名参加了两项调查。我们发现，道德参与的水平介于（a）关于气候变化原因和环保行为的意见，（b）个人应对功效和环保行为以及（c）引起气候变化和环保的责任之间行为。而且，人们对导致和应对气候变化的责任更多地落在团体和组织上，而对个人的责任则更少，而不论他们对气候变化起因的看法如何。纵向分析表明，那些对人为气候变化更加持怀疑态度的人在道德上的参与度也降低了。与此相关的是，那些没有道德参与的人表示对气候变化的内less感较小，尽管有证据表明这种关系是双向的。我们认为，道德脱离接触是减少努力行为和内感的关键机制。纵向分析表明，那些对人为气候变化更加持怀疑态度的人在道德上的参与度也降低了。与此相关的是，那些没有道德参与的人表示对气候变化的内less感较小，尽管有证据表明这种关系是双向的。我们认为，道德脱离接触是减少努力行为和内感的关键机制。纵向分析表明，那些对人为气候变化更加持怀疑态度的人在道德上的参与度也降低了。与此相关的是，那些没有道德参与的人表示对气候变化的内less感较小，尽管有证据表明这种关系是双向的。我们认为，道德脱离接触是减少努力行为和内感的关键机制。