Risk Perception and Decision Making

Abstract

There are many influences on how people perceive and respond to risks. Several participants noted that individuals' values, beliefs, and attitudes as well as the wider social or cultural values or dispositions strongly influence how risks are perceived or accepted. A better understanding of risks, consequently, will not lead to a uniform response to them. As an expert in risk communication noted, information alone does not resolve controversy. Good risk communication depends on understanding more than quantitative risks and benefits; background experiences and values also influence the process. For example, people who have a general mistrust of government or big business may be less likely to accept the vaccine risk estimates published by government health agencies or vaccine manufacturers.