Risk Perceptions

A risk perception is the opinion held concerning a given shock or risk. Perceptions are formed automatically and altered regularly for all types of risk, including natural or technological hazards and conflict. Theories of risk perception arose from the acknowledgement that experts and nonexperts perceive risks very differently. The perceived seriousness of risks such as nuclear technology has often been diametrically opposed to that calculated by risk professionals.

Scientific literature often treats natural hazard perception as biased or inadequate, but perception is formed in the same way as opinion. Perception is neither right nor wrong, neither good nor bad, and like opinion, can evolve. Perception of natural and other hazards is a sociocultural construct juggled and tested by the public alongside a host of information sources and daily priorities. If greater protective behavior is the goal, perception requires careful study and understanding. If a community, despite adequate awareness levels, doesn't perceive a risk, investing in the attenuation of that risk may be a questionable priority. If, however, awareness is sincerely lacking in a community, it should only be improved at the same time as strategies are strengthened, allowing members to act on their newly emerging awareness through personal agency.

Across all time scales and continents, and regardless of how scientific and carefully communicated, individuals do not react to awareness of those risks situated beyond the immediate periphery. If an announced risk does not target an individual directly (same age, sex, race, education level, socioeconomic background, neighborhood), the individual typically considers her/ himself to be outside the realm of influence.

An individual's risk perception can influence practices at all levels of risk management. During the pre-event (prevention, mitigation, and risk reduction), politicians and communities alike will routinely prioritize risks that are the most recent or recurrent, often forgetting low-frequency, but high-impact events. It is important to conduct an all-hazard assessment and inventory all possible events, natural and otherwise. In early warning and evacuation, households may choose to ignore alerts because they have no trust in the emitting agency, they are convinced that the event will not affect them, or they have no other options. It is vital to study and take these perceptions into account when organizing emergency evacuation networks. In the aftermath of an event, risk perceptions are highest. Seizing this opportunity of high awareness will help to set up sustainable protective solutions for the next event.