New paper on the Overview Effect and its potential to foster pro-environmental attitudes and pro-environmental behavior [02.09.26]
Krug, L., Henn, L., & Loy, L. S. (2026). Seeing Earth, saving Earth? The Overview Effect and its role in inspiring environmental protection — A scoping review. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 114, 103186. doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2026.103186In our new publication in the Journal of Environmental Psychology, we review research on the Overview Effect and its potential to inspire environmental protection. The Overview Effect is the set of psychological effects on people's cognitions, emotions, or behaviors after witnessing Earth from above. Seeing our planet as a small, fragile sphere surrounded by the darkness of space can lead to feelings of awe, connectedness, and a renewed sense of responsibility for Earth. We reviewed research with astronauts as well as studies using simulations of viewing Earth from above and followed the question whether these report influences on pro-environmental attitudes and pro-environmental behaviors.
For astronauts, increases in pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours have been reported.
For simulation studies (e.g. by using VR), our results showed that Earth view can elicit feelings of awe and connectedness and even changes in pro-environmental attitudes, but the results were very mixed and rather inconsistent. Simluations studies further did not report observed changes in pro-environmental behavior.
Our review brings together what we currently know and points to some important questions for future research — especially how a change in perspective might translate into meaningful action.