itifiifJl Attachment 1: Qualitative Factors Affecting Risk Perception Factor Conditions Associated with Increased Public Concern Conditions Associated with Decreased Public Concern Catastrophic Potential Fatalities and injuries grouped in time and space Fatalities and injuries scattered and random Familiarity Unfamiliar Familiar Understanding Mechanisms or process not understood Mechanisms or process understood Controllability (own) Uncontrollable Controllable Exposure Willingness Involuntary Voluntary Effects on Children Children specifically at risk Children not specifically at risk Effects Manifestation Delayed effects Immediate effects Future Generation Effects Risk to future generations No risk to future generations Victim Identification Identifiable victims Statistical victims Dread Effects dreaded Effects not dreaded Trust in Institutions Lack of trust in responsible institutions Trust in responsible institutions Media Attention Much media attention Little media attention Accident History Major and/or minor accidents No major or minor accidents Equity Inequitable distribution of risks and benefits Equitable distribution of risks and benefits Benefits Unclear benefits Clear benefits Reversibility Effects irreversible Effects reversible Origin Caused by human actions/ failures Caused by acts of nature/God National Research Council. 1989. Improving Risk Communication. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. 1 I II Risk Communication ------- |