The Perception of Risk (The Earthscan Risk in Society Series)

It examines the gap between the expert view of risk and public perceptions of it. Presented in chronological order, it allows the reader to see the evolution of such perceptions of risk over the years, from highlighting public misconceptions of risk to recent work that recognizes the importance of equity, trust, power and other value-laden issues underlying public concern.

New methods for assessing perceptions are described, as are implications for regulation and public policy. In a new departure, the perceptions of adolescents as well as adults, are examined.

In an excellent overview of the critical issues involved in risk perception, this volume examines issues such as: societal risk taking; decision making in mental health law; rating risks; facts versus fears; informing and educating the public about risk; perceived risks and the politics of nuclear waste; and perceived risk, trust and democracy.

Written by the expert in the field of risk studies, this eagerly awaited volume provides an essential guide to all those who have an interest in the public perception of risk including regulators, lawyers, policy makers and the business community as well as academics from the fields of public health and environment, economics, sociology and political science.

No one who has come across the term risk perception can have missed Paul Slovic's name. As one of the leading scientists in the field of risk perception, Paul has covered large areas and tackled various problems in order to show how we view, react to, and handle situations and problems related to what we in common language call risk.

To call him one of the founders of the psychometric paradigm is too plain a characterization of the scientific contribution of Paul Slovic. The psychometric methodology is just the means he has used to study how human beings perceive, judge and make decisions about risk in various situations. He has introduced psychological aspects of risk into natural sciences, where risk earlier has been considered as a numerical and objectively assessable quantity. Now physicists, chemists, and even engineers realize that risk perception cannot be ignored and is influenced by many factors (e.g. voluntariness, familiarity, dread, equity) relating to risk and how risk is described. For those who want to make risk comparisons, inform people about risks or do anything else regarding risk, it is necessary to be familiar with risk perception.

With his great openness, Paul has been able to collaborate with scientists from many different areas, both scientifically and geographically. In this way he has improved and enriched his work with practical aspects in many domains, particularly radioactivity and use of chemicals. Therefore it possible for most scientists to find in this book interesting reading related to their own problems. The book only contains about an eighth (but a representative sample) of Paul's total scientific production. As the papers are ordered chronologically, it is easy to follow the development in time of different ideas and conclusions and to see how later studies derive from earlier ones in a logical way. Thus, in the two last chapters of the book, the ideas and views on risk are further expanded and offer exciting vistas for the future. In the same way as many of Paul's earlier ideas have been accepted and continued by later researchers, his recent views about "the affect heuristic" most certainly will be the subject for many future scientific publications.

t.malmfors@chello.se


Good Information Source for Everyone   March 30, 2008
Y. MORI (Kamakura, Japan)
2 out of 8 found this review helpful

I think this book is very easy to read even for non-native people.
I am satisfied with the quality of contents.
The information of each article is very practical and useful.
Thank you so much.