The Perception of Risk

A problem exists in the perception of risk because the experts and lay people s views differ. The experts usually base their assessment on mortality rates, while the lay people s fears are based on "outrage" factors. In order to help solve tliis problem, in tlie future, risk nimuigcrs must work to make truly serious hazards more outrageous. One example is tlie ongoing concern for tlie risk involved in cigarette smoke. Another effort must be made to decrease tlie public s concern with low to modest hazards, i.e., risk managers must diminish "outrage" in these areas. In addition, people must be treated fairly and honestly. 

The media provides information regarding the nature and extend of risks. Every day risks, ue underestimated by the public, because much attention is directed to largely publicized risks. The perception of a given risk is amplified by "outrage factors Inch can make people feel even small risks are unacceptable. Experts view the perception of risk differently tlian lay people as a result a serious hazard may be underestimated. 

Dake, K. 1991. Orientating dispositions in the perception of risk An analysis of contemporary worldviews and cultural biases. J. Cross-Cult. Psychol. 22, 61-82. 

Savage, L. J. (1954) The Foundations of Statistics, Wiley, New York Slovic, P. (ed) (2000) The Perception of Risk, Earthscan, London... 

The rejection of GMOs in organic agriculture is based more on a different perception of risks than upon the presence or absence of scientific proof that risks exist objectively. The perception of risk from an organic perspective is based on a holistic view of life. 

A number of thoughts on risk and the perception of risk are provided by a variety of authors. [22—29]... 

Risk is considered as the probability of a negative event occurring and can be quantified. However, this form of risk can be understood as "danger." The perception of risk is a socially constructed phenomenon, and is more difficult to measure. Psychological risk is based on perception rather than... 

True risks are often different than perceived risks. Due to human curiosity, the desire to sell new s and current trends, some folks have a distorted sense of risks. Some thoughts on risk and the perception of risk are provided by a variety of authors [22-29]. 

The perception of risks and benefits changes with time as the history of DDT illustrates. DDT was first synthesized in 1874 by the German chemist Zeidler. However, the insecticidal properties of DDT were discovered only later, in 1939, by Paul Mueller in Switzerland, who received the Nobel Prize for his discovery. After it became available on the market, DDT was accepted immediately and used on a large scale. For the first time in history, people could control insects effectively. Mothers could relieve their children from lice, farmers could protect their livestock and harvest. DDT has probably been responsible for saving more lives than any other synthetic chemical, perhaps with the exception of antibiotics. It is estimated that around 1940 ca 300 million people suffered from malaria. The mortality rate was about 1 percent. Thirty years later DDT and WHO (World Health organization) malaria program had eradicated malaria in many parts of the world. DDT also... 

Another important social issue that influences risk communication is environmental justice and the perceived fairness of the risk to a community or subculture. For example, the perceived risk of adverse health effects from a landfill may depend on whether the waste deposited there is generated locally or transported from somewhere else. Similarly, the perception of risks associated with locating new... 

Trust is another important factor affecting the perception of risk by parents. Those who had more trust in the medical system tended to have a more positive outlook on research studies. It is not surprising to discover that individuals from ethic minorities have less trust in research and the medical establishment and are less likely to take part in clinical research (Corbie-Smith et al., 1999 Shavers and Burmeister, 2002). 

If we accept that the perception of risk is linked to a number of extraneous factors then how do these elements affect society s view of HIT In the main it is probably fair to assume that the public gives little regard to the safety characteristics of technology in healthcare. There is an implicit assumption that the tools we use to support care are fit for purpose, well maintained, in good working order and are operated by trained individuals. These are indeed reasonable expectations so when defects in those systems or the way they are operated introduces hazards this can be difficult to justify to the patient on whom the risk is ultimately imposed. 

None of the interviewed persons demanded a new risk reduction plan or a reappraisal of the risk in the aftermath of the accident at the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig. They were convinced that the knowledge basis is sufficient to reach a positive judgment and that petroleum operations in these areas will not pose different challenges from those that the Norwegian public is familiar with further south. In contrast to the lack of ambiguity in the perception of risks, there was a... 

Stockbroker who proposes a risk management program. It s also important that safety professionals appreciate the culture of an organization and the perception of risk a management staff may have, its fears and logic concerning risk, and its tolerance for risk. Managers are risk takers so are safety professionals. 

The perception of risk for a violent assault at work is also highest for the protective service occupations, followed by health and social welfare professionals. According to various crime surveys (BCS) over the years 2(X)7 and 2011, on average, there were 3225 assaults per 10000 workers per year in the security and protective services. Understandably, the risk of violence while at work is the highest for security and protective services, with a risk percentage of 11.4%, while the average risk of violence while at work is only 1.2%. The police are at most risk, followed by social workers, probation officers, publicans, bar staff, and security guards. 

Finucane M.L., Alhakami A., Slovic P. Johnson S.M. (2000) The Affect Heuristic in Judgements and Benefits. In P. Slovic (ed) The Perception of Risk. Ixrndon Earthscan. 

According to most authors, risk and disasters are socially constructed phenomena and should therefore be studied in the contexts in which they occur (Rodriguez, 2005). In fact, at the level of the individuals and their communities responses to natural and technological disasters, the discussion between actual risk and perceived risk is put aside by the fact that social vulnerability and resilience, defined as the abilities to deal with disasters and to create new life styles in accordance to the conditions derived from them (Manyema 2006), depend almost entirely on the perception of risks. 

In most psychometric studies, the researchers do not specify in their questionnaires who is supposed to be exposed to the risk. Yet Lennart Sjoberg has shown that the answers are considerably different when the risk is presented as a threat for the individual, his/her family or when it is considered more generally (Sjoberg 1999). Indeed, the perception of risk is higher when it is considered as threatening the individual or his/her close relations. Without specifying who is exposed, it seems that the interviewees answers are relatively similar to their answers about the risk considered generally. 

Besides, many psychometric studies are based on risks comparisons, the relevance of which can be questioned. Indeed, we can ask ourselves if it makes sense to compare the use of amiciowave oven and the threat of a nuclear war. Often, the studied risks are too different -either in magnitude, or in nature - to be compared. It would probably be more appropriate to compare technologies that correspond to the same need, such as energy technologies or transport technologies. In this perspective, some later works seem to be more relevant, as they focus on one particular type of risk, such as the perception of risk from automobile defects or from prescription drugs (Slovic 1987, 1989). This approach should be systematized. 

Slovic, P. 2000. The perception of risk. London Earthscan Publications... 

Definitions of the levels of probability and severity used in risk assessment matrices vary greatly. This reflects the differences in the perceptions of risk that people have. Since a risk assessment matrix is a management decision tool, management personnel at the appropriate level must agree on the definitions of the terms to be used. In so doing, management establishes the levels of risk that require reduction and those that are acceptable. 

If unnecessary accidents are to be avoided, additional precautions are required. The original design and indeed the choice of process must be scrutinised to see that it is as safe as is reasonably possible. There is always a certain risk and while it is laudable to quantify the hazards and their consequences, it should be remembered that the perception of risk is often qualitative. Furthermore it is these qualitative aspects which influence society to accept or reject (sometimes irrationally) certain activities. For example, unless society valued the qualitative benefits of personal road travel highly, it would be difficult to explain how it accepts the large number of casualties on the roads. 

Firstly, the Perception of Risks Risks related to the handling of radioactive wastes are perceived veiy differently by different groups of people. 

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