Risk Perception Research

This first chapter provides a brief review of the present knowledge on risk perception and elucidates the psychological and social factors that shape the experience of risk. It aims at integrating the results of psychological, sociological, and cultural studies and presents the major findings of the social sciences as they seem relevant for a deeper understanding of risk and the role of risk perception for risk management. A second objective is to review comparative studies about risk perception in different cultures and nations and the approaches utilized in such research.After discussing definitions of risk, two sections introduce the methodology of cross-cultural risk research. Two further sections deal with core substantive issues, including heuristics, hazard features, psychological facets of hazard appraisals, pertinent group processes and societal factors determining risk perception. Finally, the relevance and utilization of risk perception research for the public discourse about hazards and implications for managing risks are outlined.