The Perception of Risk

The concept of risk is an outgrowth of our society's great concern about coping with the dangers of modern life. "The Perception of Risk" brings together the work of Paul Slovic, one of the world's leading analysts of risk, risk perception and risk management. 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

Paul Slovic is President of Decision Research and Professor of Psychology at the University of Oregon