The Feeling of Risk: New Perspectives on Risk Perception / Edition 1

by Paul Slovic

Overview

The Feeling of Risk brings together the work of Paul Slovic, one of the world's leading analysts of risk, to describe the extension of risk perception research into the first decade of this new century. In this collection of important works, Paul Slovic explores the conception of 'risk as feelings' and examines the interaction of feeling and cognition in the perception of risk. He also examines the elements of knowledge, cognitive skill, and communication necessary for good decisions in the face of risk. The first section of the book looks at the difficulty of understanding risk without an emotional component, for example that disaster statistics lack emotion and thus fail to convey the true meaning of disasters and fail to motivate proper action to prevent them. The book also highlights other important perspectives on risk arising from cultural worldviews and concerns about specific hazards pertaining to blood transfusion, biotechnology, prescription drugs, smoking, terrorism, and nanotechnology. Following on from The Perception of Risk (2000), this book presents some of the most significant research on risk perception in recent years, providing essential lessons for all those involved in risk perception and communication.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781849711487
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	09/03/2010
Series:	Earthscan Risk in Society
Edition description:	1
Pages:	456
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.40(d)

About the Author

Paul Slovic is a founder and President of Decision Research, a non-profit research organization investigating human judgment, decision-making, and risk. He is also a Professor in the Department of Psychology, University of Oregon and a past President of the Society for Risk Analysis.

Table of Contents

List of Tables and Figures vii

Acronyms and Abbreviations xv

Acknowledgements xvii

Introduction and Overview Paul Slovic xix

I Risk as Feelings

1 The Affect Heuristic and the Attractiveness of Simple Gambles Ian Bateman Sam Dent Ellen Peters Paul Slovic Chris Starmer 3

2 Risk as Analysis and Risk as Feelings: Some Thoughts about Affect, Reason, Risk and Rationality Paul Slovic Melissa L. Finucane Ellen Peters Donald G. MacGregor 21

3 Attentional Mechanisms in the Generation of Sympathy Stephan Dickert Paul Slovic 37

4 Sympathy and Callousness: The Impact of Deliberative Thought on Donations to Identifiable and Statistical Victims Deborah A. Small George Loewenstein Paul Slovic 51

5 The More Who Die, the Less We Care Paul Slovic 69

6 Numbers and Nerves: Toward an Affective Apprehension of Environmental Risk Scott Slovic Paul Slovic 79

7 Cigarette Smokers: Rational Actors or Rational Fools" Paul Slovic 85

8 Affect, Risk Perception and Future Optimism After the Tsunami Disaster Daniel Västfjäll Ellen Peters Paul Slovic 109

II Culture, Cognition and Risk

9 Gender, Race and Perceived Risk: The 'White-Male' Effect Melissa L. Finucane Paul Slovic C. K. Mertz James Flynn Terre Satterfield 125

10 Discrimination, Vulnerability and Justice in the Face of Risk Terre Satterfield C. K. Mertz Paul Slovic 141

11 Culture and Identity-Protective Cognition: Explaining the White-Male Effect in Risk Perception Dan M. Kahan Donald Braman John Gastil Paul Slovic C. K. Mertz 163

12 Fear of Democracy: A Cultural Evaluation of Sunstein on Risk Dan M. Kahan Paul Slovic Donald Braman John Gastil 183

13 Risk Lived, Stigma Experienced Terre Satterfield Paul Slovic Robin Gregory James Flynn C. K. Mertz 215

III Psychometric Studies

14 Public Perception of the Risk of Blood Transfusion Melissa L. Finucane Paul Slovic C. K. Mertz 235

15 Expert and Public Perception of Risk from Biotechnology Lucia Savadori Stefania Savio Eraldo Nicotra Rino Rumiati Melissa L. Finucane Paul Slovic 245

16 Risk Perception of Prescription Drugs: Results of a National Survey Paul Slovic Ellen Peters John Grana Susan Berger Gretchen S. Dieck 261

17 Predicting and Modelling Public Response to a Terrorist Strike William J. Burns Paul Slovic 285

18 Cultural Cognition of the Risks and Benefits of Nanotechnology Dan M. Kahan Donald Braman Paul Slovic John Gastil Geoffrey Cohen 307

IV Risk Knowledge and Risk Communication

19 The Social Amplification of Risk: Assessing Fifteen Years of Research and Theory Jeanne X. Kasperson Roger E. Kasperson Nick Pidgeon Paul Slovic 317

20 Numeracy Skill and the Communication, Comprehension and Use of Risk-Benefit Information Ellen Peters Judith Hibbard Paul Slovic Nathan Dieckmann 345

21 Public Understanding of the Illnesses Caused by Cigarette Smoking Neil D.Weinstein Paul Slovic Erika Waters Ginger Gibson 353

22 The Impact and Acceptability of Canadian-style Cigarette Warning Labels Among US Smokers and Nonsmokers Ellen Peters Daniel Romer Paul Slovic Kathleen Hall Jamieson Leisha Wharfield C. K. Mertz Stephanie M. Carpenter 365

Editorial Reviews

'To understand how people deal with risk, you have to begin with the psychology of risk. To understand the psychology of risk, you have to begin with the work of Paul Slovic. This book is fundamental: Anyone concerned with risk in any of its various and shifting forms absolutely must read it.' - Dan Gardner, author of Risk: The Science and Politics of Fear

'No one has done more to increase our understanding of perceived risk than Paul Slovic. This book provides a compilation of much of Slovic's recent research on the determinants of risk perceptions. The research focus is on two thought-provoking ideas. First, it is argued that risk perceptions often follow quick (and often unconscious) like or disliking affective judgments rather than risk perceptions leading to the liking or disliking of an activity. Second, it is argued that perceptions of risk are, at least in part, determined by cultural worldviews. Again, the idea is that 'facts' and 'values' both determine risk perceptions in ways not previously understood. Beyond the determinants of risk perceptions this book also discusses the important implications of the psychology of risk perceptions for government policies to regulate hazardous activities. Once again Paul Slovic has demonstrated why he has long been the leading thinker dealing with perceived risk.' - John W. Payne, The Joseph J. Ruvane, Jr. Professor of Business, Fuqua School of Business, Duke University, USA

'Slovic provides a unique account of our current understanding of risk perception, one which will be invaluable for all students of the relationship between feeling and cognition in risk decision-making and communication.' - Professor Glynis M Breakwell, Vice-Chancellor, University of Bath, UK

'Given the risks we face as a species, the risks of getting risk 'wrong' are too great. Understanding how we perceive risk is the first step toward making healthier choices for ourselves and our society. This is an important book, at a critical time, and should be high on every policymaker's reading list.' - David Ropeik, author of 'How Risky Is It, Really? Why Our Fears Don't Always Match the Facts'

'The book would be very useful for anyone who is concerned with any aspect or type of risk study and would like to have the overall and complete information on the factors governing risk and of decision making in general, a must read this book.' - International Journal of Performability Engineering

'Ultimately, the book’s contribution to homeland security and emergency management scholars and practitioners lies in the fact that it raises our awareness of the many ways of viewing risk. It challenges us to contemplate the multifaceted elements of risk, the ways in which we perceive it, and the decisions we make in response to it.'- Nicholas V. Cagliuso Sr., Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management

From the Publisher