Difference between revisions of "Risk Perception"

From CIPedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Line 37: Line 37:
 
* [[Illusion of Control]]
 
* [[Illusion of Control]]
 
* [[Optimism Bias]]
 
* [[Optimism Bias]]
 +
* [[Psychological Heuristics]]
 
* [[Risk]]
 
* [[Risk]]
 
* [[Risk Assessment]]
 
* [[Risk Assessment]]

Revision as of 15:44, 24 November 2016

This section contains definitions of Risk Perception and the notion of Subjective Risk. The concepts of Risk Perception and Risk Tolerance, while unique, are very much linked. [1]

Other relevant terms of note are Optimism Bias and Illusion of Control.

Definitions

European Definitions

Other International Definitions

National Definitions

Standard Definition

ISO Guide 73:2009(en)

Stakeholder's view on a risk. [2]

Note: Risk perception reflects the stakeholder's needs, issues, knowledge, belief and values.

Academic Definitions

Subjective Risk/ Risk perception is the estimated probability people have that a specific type of negative event could happen and how affected they are by the consequences. [3] [4]


An individual perception of risk includes a subjective risk estimate [5] which is heavily influenced (and not limited to) the following factors [6][7]: type of risk (e.g. nature and features of the disaster), individual characteristics (e.g. personality, personal experience with a similar disaster, training and education), social context (e.g. publicity and communication), and cultural values (e.g. trust in authorities).


Risk perception is the ability of an individual to discern a certain amount of risk. [1]


Discussion

Subjective risk is a social construct and is defined in opposition with the “objective risk” or “real risk”. [8] It usually refers to the judgment of non-experts (lay people, members of the general public, civil population) since their perception of risk is likely to be different compared to experts. [9] Risk perception by experts is usually labeled “Risk Assessment”. Experts tend to estimate risk in a more objective analytic and rational way based on scientific and technological knowledge [10] However, there are studies showing that even experts can commit estimation errors when they cannot rely on consistent data. [11] However, average citizens are more likely to have more distorted perceptions and to be under a higher influence of cognitive biases and heuristics.


See also

Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 Campbell Institute (2014). Risk perception: Theories, strategies and next steps.
  2. ISO Guide 73:2009 Risk management -- Vocabulary
  3. Sjöberg, L. (2000). Factors in risk perception. Risk Analysis, 20, 1-11.
  4. Sjöberg, L. (2003). Risk perception is not what it seems: The psychometric paradigm revisited. In K. Andersson (Ed.), VALDOR Conference 2003 (pp. 14-29). Stockholm: VALDOR.
  5. Yates, J.F. (1992). Risk-taking behavior. London: John Wiley & Sons
  6. Cooper, D. (2003). Psychology, risk & safety: Understanding how personality & perception can influence risk taking. Professional Safety, 39-46.
  7. Hofer, J. (2016). Report on risk perception. Deliverable D32.1 for Driver Project (http://driver-project.eu/content/report-risk-perception)
  8. Slovic, P. (1992). Perception of risk: reflections on the psychometric paradigm, in Krimsky, S., & Golding, D. (Eds.), Social Theories of Risk, Praeger, Westport, 117-152.
  9. Bostrom, A. (1997). Risk perceptions: ‘Experts’ vs. ‘Lay people,’ Duke Environmental Law Policy Forum, 8(101), 101-113.
  10. Sjöberg, L. (1999). Risk Perception by the Public and by Experts: A Dilemma in Risk Management, Human Ecology Revenue, 6(2), 1-9.
  11. van der Pligt, J. (1996). Judgement and Decision Making. In R. G. Semin & K. Fiedler, Applied Social Psychology (pp 30-64).