Skip to main content

The Psychology of Risk Characterization

  • Chapter
Future Risks and Risk Management

Part of the book series: Technology, Risk, and Society ((RISKGOSO,volume 9))

Abstract

Risk analysis is an applied science. There is no point in doing it unless its results can make a difference in some practical pursuit. In this light, even a conscientious analysis can fail if it addresses irrelevant problems, ignores relevant issues, or is unable to get its message across.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Armstrong, J.S. (1985). Long-range forecasting (end ed). New York: Wiley-Interscience.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bostrom, A., Fischhoff, B. and Morgan, G.M. (1992). Characterizing mental models of hazardous processes: A methodology and an application to radon. Journal of Social Issues, 48, 85–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Covello, V.T., Sandman, P.M., and Slovic, P. (1988). Risk communication, risk statistics, and risk comparisons: A manual for plant managers. Washington, D.C. Chemical Manufacturers Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crouch, C.A.C. and Wilson, R. (1982). Risk/benefits analysis. Cambridge, MA: Ballinger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Finkel, A. (1991). Utilization of risk information in decision making: A decision analyst’s view.Washington DC: Resources for the Future.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fischhoff, B. (1977). Cost-benefit analysis and the art of motorcycle maintenance. Policy Sciences, 8, 177–202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fischhoff, B. (1987). Treating the public with risk communications: A public health perspective. Science, Technology, and Human Values, 12(3and4), 13–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fischhoff, B. (1989). Eliciting knowledge for analytical representation. IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man and Cybernetics, 13 (3), 448–461.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fischhoff, B. (1992). Giving advice: Decision theory perspectives on sexual assault. American Psychologist, 47, 577–588.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fischhoff, B., Bostrom, A. and Quadrel, M.J. (1993). Risk perception and communication. Annual Review of Public Health, 14, 183–203.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fischhoff, B. and Cox, L. A., Jr. (1985). Conceptual framework for benefit assessment. In J. D. Bentkover, V. T. Covello and J. Mumpower (Eds.), Benefits assessment: The state of the art (pp. 51–84 ). Dordrecht, The Netherlands: D. Reidel.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fischhoff, B., Lichtenstein, S., Slovic, P., Derby, S. L. and Keeney, R. L. (1981). Acceptable risk. New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fischhoff, B. and Quadrel, M.J. (1991). Adolescent alcohol decisions. Alcohol Health and Research World, 15 43–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fischhoff, B., Slovic, P. and Lichtenstein, S. (1978). Fault trees: Sensitivity of assessed failure probabilities to problem representation. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 4, 330–344.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fischhoff, B., Slovic, P., Lichtenstein, S., Read, S. and Combs, B. (1978). How safe is safe enough? A psychometric study of attitudes towards technological risks and benefits. Policy Sciences, 8, 127–152.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fischhoff, B., Watson, S., and Hope, C. (1984). Defining risk. Policy Sciences, 17, 123–139.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fiske, S., and Taylor, S. (1989). Social cognition ( 2nd ed ). Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Funtowicz, S.O. and Ravetz, J.R. (1990). Uncertainty and quality in science. Dordrecht: Kluwer.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Furby, L., Fischhoff, B., and Morgan, M. (1990). Preventing rape: How people perceive the options for assault prevention. In E. Viano (Ed.), The Victimology Research Handbook, (pp. 227–259 ). New York: Garland Publishing, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibson, M. (Ed.) (1985). To breathe freely: Risk, consent, and air. Totowa, NJ: Rowman and Allanheld.

    Google Scholar 

  • Graham, J. and Sielken, R. (1991). A case study on formaldehyde: Communication between risk assessors and risk managers. Cambridge MA: Harvard School of Public Health.

    Google Scholar 

  • Makridakis, S. (1990). Forecasting, planning, and strategy for the 21st century. New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Merz, J. (1991). An empirical analysis of the medical informed consent doctrine. Risk, 2, 33–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, M.G., Fischoff, R., Bostrom, A., Lave, L., and Atman, C.J. (1992). Communicating risk to the public. Environmental Source and Technology, 26, 2048–2056.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, M.G., and Henrion, M. (1990). Uncertainty. New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murphy, A.H. and Winkler, R.L. (1984). Probability of precipitation forecasts. Journal of the American Statistical Association, 79, 391–400.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Research Council. (1989). Improving risk communication. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Page, T. (1978). A generic view of toxic chemicals and similar risks. Ecology Law Review, 7, 207–243.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pliskin, J.S., Shepard, D.S. and Weinstein, M.C. (1980). Utility functions for life years and health status. Operations Research, 28, 206–224.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quadrel, M.J. (1990). Elicitation of adolescents’ risk perceptions: Qualitative and quantitative dimensions. Ph.D. dissertation. Carnegie Mellon University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roth, E., Morgan, G., Fischhoff, B., Lave, L., and Bostrom, A. (1990). What do we know about making risk comparisons? Risk Analysis, 60, 375–387.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Slovic, P. (1987). Perception of risk. Science, 236(479), 280–285.

    Google Scholar 

  • Slovic, P., Lichtenstein, S., and Fischhoff, B. (1984). Modeling the societal impact of fatal accidents. Management Science, 30, 464–474.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Svenson, O. and Fischhoff, B. (1985). Levels of environmental decisions. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 5, 55–67.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker, S. and Rosser, R. (Eds.) (1987). Quality of life: Assessment and application. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zentner, R.D. (1979). Hazards in the chemical industry. Chemical and Engineering News,57(45),25–32

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1994 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Fischhoff, B. (1994). The Psychology of Risk Characterization. In: Brehmer, B., Sahlin, NE. (eds) Future Risks and Risk Management. Technology, Risk, and Society, vol 9. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-8388-6_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-8388-6_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-4454-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-015-8388-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics