Chris Rapley talks about climate change, visualisation and story-telling.
Prof. Christopher Graham Rapley (known as Chris Rapley) CBE (born 9 April 1947)[1] is a British scientist. He was Executive Director of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme IGBP from 1994 to 1998, and Director of the British Antarctic Survey from 1998 to 2007. He was appointed Director of the Science Museum in 2007, stepping down in 2010. In 2008 he was awarded the Edinburgh Science Medal – “For professional achievements judged to have made a significant contribution to the understanding and well-being of humanity”
15. Climate TO PROSPER
System 1 (Automatic)
Intuitive - autonomous and effortless. Outside conscious
awareness and does not require controlled attention.
Generates fast, automatic responses. Wellspring for
spontaneous creative thoughts and ideas
System 2 (Deliberative)
Reflective reasoning - conscious, deliberative, effortful.
Requires controlled attention. Flexible and can be applied to
different problem domains. Underlies capacity for abstract
thinking, mental simulation and introspection
19. Climate TO PROSPER
Perception
• Optic nerve axons equivalent to 1 Megapixel camera!
• Rapidly scan ‘searchlight’ to build up visual scene
~80% of which is constructed in brain
34. Climate TO PROSPER
What Did We See?!
- Agency!
- Intentions & Motivations!
- Emotions!
- Character Traits
35. Climate TO PROSPER
Social Evaluation and
Narrative Processors!
- Automatic!
- Always on!
- In the hidden part!
- Snap judgements!
- Stereotypes!
36. Climate TO PROSPERClimate TO PROSPER
Hidden Contributions to A
Thought
mental sensations
(perceptions and cognitive
feelings)
thoughts
actions
individual genetic factors
evolutionary history / species-
level biological factors
memories and experiences
emotions and mood
pressures from the social
environment
Adapted from Burton,”A Skeptic’s Guide to the Mind” 2013
physical sensations
influences from cultural
heritage
38. Climate TO PROSPER
Automatic Associations
Feelings steer What we Think
Determine What we Feel
drive need to formulate
meaning even if there is none
41. Climate TO PROSPER
Pre-existing hidden associations tip us
down one side of the triangle
Step by step we consolidate our
position as we seek to eliminate
Dissonance - To feel right not wrong
in doing so we become increasingly
practiced and resolute
Thought becomes Belief / Conviction
42. Climate TO PROSPER
To account for those who
differ we assume they are ...
- Ill-informed / Misled
- Incapable / Crazy
- Self-interested / Evil
44. Climate TO PROSPERClimate TO PROSPER
Powerful Influences
• Care - Harm!
• Liberty - Oppression!
• Fairness - Cheating!
• Loyalty - Betrayal!
• Authority - Subversion!
• Sanctity - Degradation
(Joanathan Haidt - Moral Foundations Theory)
45. Climate TO PROSPER
Threat
Life Support
Reducing Harm
Collective Action
Nature
Hoax
Personal Freedom
Regulation
State Interference
Individuality
46. Climate TO PROSPER
We Care Very Much What
Others Think of Us
We Make Sense Of The World
Through the Lenses Of Those
With Whom We Identify And
Whose Esteem We Seek
51. Climate TO PROSPER
• Assuming others have pieces of the
answer!
• Collaborative!
• About finding common ground!
• Listening to understand!
• Exploring assumptions!
• Discovering new possibilities!
• Seeking constructive progress
Debate Dialogue
Mode of Engagement
• Assuming there is one right answer!
• Combative!
• About winning!
• Listening for flaws!
• Defending assumptions!
• Pursuing your outcome!
• Asymmetries of engagement!
• Entertainment× ✓