Week 6 - Lecture 11A - Risk perception & Secure behaviour

Question 1

Not In My Backyard (NIMBY)

Answer 1

A characterization of opposition by residents to developments in their area, as well as support for strict land use regulations. Residents are only opposing the development because it is close to them and that they would tolerate it if it were built farther away

Question 2

Locally Unwanted Land Use (LULU)

Answer 2

A land use that creates externality cost on those living in close proximity. These costs include potential health hazards, poor aesthetics, or reduction in home values (e.g. power plants, landfills, etc.)

Question 3

Level of harm

Answer 3

Risk perceptions vary when it comes to the level of harm

Question 4

Type of harm & relative fear

Answer 4

Fear is relative to particular types of harm. We are more afraid of a shark attack, than e.g. a dog attack, even though you might end up with the same wounds

Question 5

Level of control

Answer 5

When you’re in control you overestimate yourself and underestimate other people in the ability to avoid harm

Question 6

Level of voluntariness

Answer 6

If you take a risk voluntarily it’s less scary then when your exposed to it without your consent

Question 7

Level of loss/gain

Answer 7

If your gains are bigger than the risk, then taking the risk is more appealing

Question 8

Causes & losses

Answer 8

People fear man-made events much more than natural occurrences. If the source of the risk is something you know then you worry a lot less, then when it’s something you don’t know

Question 9

Knowledge & awareness

Answer 9

Ignorance is bliss; if we don’t know something we don’t worry about it, however the opposite is also true (mainly for technologies); if we don’t know technologies we are more fearful of them

Question 10

Harm to whom?

Answer 10

The bigger the risk is for you as an individual, the more fearful you are

Question 11

Non-acceptance

Answer 11

They don’t see the point, don’t want to, think it’s a stupid rule, etc. Number one cause of problems

Question 12

Risk-homeostasis (risk compensation)

Answer 12

Risk and security measures are always balance. The more measures, the more risks people will take (e.g. seatbelt gets introduced ⟶ people drive faster).
Increase security ⟶ increase risky behaviour

Question 13

Motivation