An Exploration of American’s Perceived Personal Experience of Climate Change and the Role of Experience in Climate Engagement

Shaelyn Patzer

Advisor: Chris Clarke, Edward Maibach, Department of Communication

Committee Members: Timothy Gibson

Horizon Hall, #5225
April 10, 2026, 11:00 AM to 01:00 PM

Abstract:

This dissertation investigates the nuanced relationships between Americans' personal experiences of climate change now how it may influence their issue engagement, exploring the evolving perceptions of global warming over almost a decade. By offering insights from two complementary studies, this body of work provides an analysis of how Americans articulate and respond to their climate experiences. The first study analyzes open-ended responses from three waves of Climate Change in the American Mind (CCAM) surveys, offering a longitudinal view of how Americans describe their encounters with climate change, particularly through weather and climate events. The research, which spans diverse geographic areas and a longitudinal framework, confirms many existing literature findings on personal experiences of global warming. Americans predominantly describe their experiences in terms of weather or climatic events, recognizing both gradual seasonal changes and sudden extreme weather as consequences of climate change. The study highlights that while recent events influence perceptions, respondents consider experiences throughout the entire prior year rather than just recent months. Importantly, the research identifies a widening ideological divide concerning beliefs about climate change. By April 2019, respondents were considerably more polarized than in May 2011 about whether they had personally experienced global warming, and those who agreed they had experience were more likely to provide longer written depictions. These findings emphasize the complexity of how Americans perceive and attribute personal experiences to climate change, highlighting the variety of factors affecting these perceptions. The second study delves deeper into the possible impact of specific types of experiences—seasonal changes, extreme events, and non-climatic experiences—on climate engagement behaviors, such as discussing climate change, contacting government officials, and supporting policies. Utilizing additional data from the CCAM surveys, findings from the study demonstrate that personal experience is a powerful predictor of climate engagement behaviors. Results further suggest that climate attitudes (as measured by the Six Americas audience segmentation) moderate the role of experience of extreme events in contacting government officials about climate change. Collectively, these studies draw attention to the intricate interactions between personal experiences and established attitudes, highlighting their joint roles in climate engagement and the imperative for tailored communication and policy strategies.