Reflexless

• Reflexless.mp3
• Reflexless.mp4

[Intro]
(Gasp!)
Is he dead, yet?
How dead can he get?

[Verse 1]
Does it perplex
The lack of reflex
I knock on the door (knock, knock)
But nobody’s home any more

[Chorus]
No knee-jerk reaction
No blink of an eye
Apparent complication
Upped and died

[Bridge]
The world burns down
He cares less
Shorelines drown
Reflexless

[Instrumental, Guitar Solo, Drum Fills]

[Verse 2]
The funny bone
Ain’t laughing
Position: prone
Stopped coughing

[Chorus]
No knee-jerk reaction
No blink of an eye
Apparent complication
Upped and died

[Bridge]
The world burns down
He cares less
Shorelines drown
Reflexless

[Instrumental, Saxophone Solo, Piano]

A SCIENCE NOTE
Some people appear numb or compassion-less about climate change for several reasons:

Psychological Distance

1. Temporal Distance:
   • People perceive climate change impacts as happening in the distant future, reducing their sense of urgency and immediate concern .
2. Spatial Distance:
   • Climate change effects are often seen as occurring in far-off places, affecting other people rather than one’s immediate environment .
3. Social Distance:
   • Individuals might think climate change primarily impacts people who are different from them, such as those in different countries or socio-economic groups .

Cognitive Dissonance and Denial

1. Cognitive Dissonance:
   • Confronting the reality of climate change can create psychological discomfort due to the conflict between awareness of the problem and the continuation of behaviors contributing to it. This can lead to denial or downplaying of the issue to reduce this discomfort .
2. Denial and Defense Mechanisms:
   • Some people use denial as a defense mechanism to avoid the anxiety and fear associated with the overwhelming nature of climate change .

Lack of Awareness and Misinformation

1. Information Deficit:
   • A lack of understanding or misinformation about climate change can lead to apathy. Many people might not fully grasp the science behind climate change or the severity of its impacts .
2. Misinformation:
   • The spread of false information and climate change denial campaigns can confuse the public and diminish the perceived importance of the issue .

Psychological Barriers

1. Perceived Inefficacy:
   • Feelings of helplessness or the belief that individual actions cannot make a difference can lead to disengagement. When people feel their efforts are futile, they are less likely to care or act .
2. Optimism Bias:
   • Some individuals believe that technological advancements or future solutions will solve the problem without requiring immediate personal or societal changes .

Socio-Political Influences

1. Political Ideology:
   • Political beliefs and affiliations significantly influence one’s stance on climate change. Conservative ideologies often correlate with skepticism about climate change, influenced by party lines and media sources .
2. Economic Concerns:
   • Fear of economic repercussions, such as job losses in certain industries, can lead to resistance against acknowledging or addressing climate change .

Social Norms and Peer Influence

1. Social Norms:
   • People tend to conform to the beliefs and behaviors of their social group. If climate change concern is not a norm within their community, they are less likely to prioritize it .
2. Peer Influence:
   • The attitudes of peers and influential figures in one’s life can significantly impact one’s views on climate change. Lack of concern among peers can lead to similar attitudes .

References

1. PsyPost – Temporal distance reduces concern about climate change
2. Environmental Research Communications – Spatial distance affects climate change risk perception
3. Climate Outreach – Climate change and social distance
4. American Psychological Association – Cognitive Dissonance and Climate Change
5. Psychology Today – Denial and Climate Change
6. National Geographic – Lack of knowledge and climate change
7. Nature – Misinformation and Climate Change
8. ScienceDirect – Perceived Inefficacy and Climate Change
9. Pew Research Center – Optimism Bias and Climate Change
10. The Guardian – Political Ideology and Climate Change
11. Forbes – Economic Concerns and Climate Change
12. Journal of Environmental Psychology – Social Norms and Climate Change
13. Harvard Business Review – Peer Influence and Climate Change

From the album “Tempered Response” by The Beatless Sense Mongers

MegaEpix Enormous

A song about The Human Induced Climate Change Experiment