Beyond instrumentalizing “good” and “bad” emotions : towards a social, multi-affective, con-textual approach to emotions in environmental communication
Graminius, Carin LU and Wullenkord, Marlis LU
(2026)
In Ambio: a Journal of Environment and Society
- Abstract
- In this perspective, we argue for a social, multi-affective, contextual approach to emotions in environmental communication, departing from an observation that the field has often considered emotions as tools for change. To complement instrumental approaches, we stress how environmental communication as a scholarly field can benefit from a situated and contextual approach to emotions, embracing a wider perspective on emotions that recognizes that all emotions are valid. Using examples from art, activism, science communication, and cultural and psychological research, we illustrate a multifaceted approach to emotions that includes social aspects of emotions, their plurality, power dimensions, and their role in meaning-making. While research... (More)
- In this perspective, we argue for a social, multi-affective, contextual approach to emotions in environmental communication, departing from an observation that the field has often considered emotions as tools for change. To complement instrumental approaches, we stress how environmental communication as a scholarly field can benefit from a situated and contextual approach to emotions, embracing a wider perspective on emotions that recognizes that all emotions are valid. Using examples from art, activism, science communication, and cultural and psychological research, we illustrate a multifaceted approach to emotions that includes social aspects of emotions, their plurality, power dimensions, and their role in meaning-making. While research on the use-value of emotions remains important, the complexity of emotions requires varied analytical attention that more fully embraces social, cultural, and situated approaches. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/2f995809-9b55-43e9-bb24-e98d45c7a551
- author
- Graminius, Carin
LU
and Wullenkord, Marlis
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026-07-05
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- epub
- subject
- keywords
- Affective regime, Climate change, Emotions, Environmental communication, Environmental psychology, Pro-environmental behavior, Cultural studies
- in
- Ambio: a Journal of Environment and Society
- pages
- 8 pages
- publisher
- Springer Science and Business Media B.V.
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:42503066
- ISSN
- 0044-7447
- DOI
- 10.1007/s13280-026-02444-5
- project
- Mistra miljökommunikation fas II
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 2f995809-9b55-43e9-bb24-e98d45c7a551
- date added to LUP
- 2026-07-27 15:02:48
- date last changed
- 2026-09-02 09:21:26
@article{2f995809-9b55-43e9-bb24-e98d45c7a551,
abstract = {{In this perspective, we argue for a social, multi-affective, contextual approach to emotions in environmental communication, departing from an observation that the field has often considered emotions as tools for change. To complement instrumental approaches, we stress how environmental communication as a scholarly field can benefit from a situated and contextual approach to emotions, embracing a wider perspective on emotions that recognizes that all emotions are valid. Using examples from art, activism, science communication, and cultural and psychological research, we illustrate a multifaceted approach to emotions that includes social aspects of emotions, their plurality, power dimensions, and their role in meaning-making. While research on the use-value of emotions remains important, the complexity of emotions requires varied analytical attention that more fully embraces social, cultural, and situated approaches.}},
author = {{Graminius, Carin and Wullenkord, Marlis}},
issn = {{0044-7447}},
keywords = {{Affective regime; Climate change; Emotions; Environmental communication; Environmental psychology; Pro-environmental behavior; Cultural studies}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{07}},
publisher = {{Springer Science and Business Media B.V.}},
series = {{Ambio: a Journal of Environment and Society}},
title = {{Beyond instrumentalizing “good” and “bad” emotions : towards a social, multi-affective, con-textual approach to emotions in environmental communication}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13280-026-02444-5}},
doi = {{10.1007/s13280-026-02444-5}},
year = {{2026}},
}