Factors in Risk Perception

Abstract

Risk perception is a phenomenon in search of an explanation. Several approaches are discussed in this paper. Technical risk estimates are sometimes a potent factor in accounting for perceived risk, but in many important applications it is not. Heuristics and biases, mainly availability, account for only a minor portion of risk perception, and media contents have not been clearly implicated in risk perception. The psychometric model is probably the leading contender in the field, but its explanatory value is only around 20% of the variance of raw data. Adding a factor of "unnatural risk" considerably improves the psychometric model. Cultural Theory, on the other hand, has not been able to explain more than 5-10% of the variance of perceived risk, and other value scales have similarly failed. A model is proposed in which attitude, risk sensitivity, and specific fear are used as explanatory variables; this model seems to explain well over 30-40% of the variance and is thus more promising than previous approaches. The model offers a different type of psychological explanation of risk perception, and it has many implications, e.g., a different approach to the relationship between attitude and perceived risk, as compared with the usual cognitive analysis of attitude.

Societal Risk Perception in Present Day Russia

“…Overall mean estimations were very close, and linear associations between younger and older adults' ratings were very high (always higher than 0.90). Karpowicz-Lazreg and Mullet (1993) showed that between women's and men's ratings, and between participants with scientific educational background and participants with artistic educational background, the linear associations were also very high (see also Gustafson 1998;Sjöberg 2000). The only marked differences between men and women concerned the risks associated with domestic activities and public transportation (see also Barke et al 1997;, and the only differences between artists and scientists concerned health risks.…”

The Enemy of Good: Estimating the Cost of Waiting for Nearly Perfect Automated Vehicles

“…This may not be acceptable to society. A large body of research suggests that peoples' willingness to accept technological risk is governed by factors related not only to the actual risk but also to other characteristics (Sjöberg, 2000;Slovic and Peters, 2006;Dietvorst, Simmons, and Massey, 2014). For example, risks are more acceptable when they are voluntary (which it may not be for the many road users who will have to share the road with HAVs) and if a person can exert control over the outcomes (which is, by definition, not the case for higher levels of vehicle automation) (Starr, 1969;Fischhoff et al, 1978;Otway and von Winterfeldt, 1982;Slovic, 1987Slovic, , 2000Dietvorst, Simmons, and Massey, 2016).…”

Justiça Ambiental: uma abordagem ecossocial em saúde

“…24 Consequently, unequal distribution of pollution and environmental destruction across space have been the focus of increased interest and manifestations all over the world.…”

“…26 Moreover, risk can be defi ned according to: the extent people are exposed to it, the features of the exposed populations, its consequences and the nature of the threat -physical, chemical, or biological agent, or a combination of conditions which can be potential causes of damage. 13 The existence of risk is based on the existence of individuals, organizations and societies 24 and the term has been widely debated due to labor accidents, increased pollution, global warming, among other factors. The occurrence of these risks can bring about a number of consequences to the individual, such as stress, harm, disease, death, damage to property, in addition to consequences to the environment, such as the decrease of fauna and fl ora, pollution and environmental imbalance.…”