Public versus personal risk: The challenge in environmental risk communication
- Risk Communication International, Bethesda, MD (United States)
In recent years, the public distress or indignation issue has become so central to discussions of environmental risk communication that health concerns have not been given adequate consideration. Social scientists focus exclusively upon community distress, while the technical experts focus upon numbers. Professionals from each field accuse the other of doing the wrong thing. The fact is that there is a place for both. The relative importance of each can be determined by the mix of concerns identified using a matrix approach. A matrix is provided to serve as a tool by which the communicator can balance public motivators - health concerns and indignation. The context of environmental risks and perceptions varies greatly. It is important to categorize public perceptions and to attempt to find the matrix block which best represents the situation at hand. This enables the proper framing of interactions and messages and the use of the most appropriate communicators. Providing an effective health focus has been complicated by risk perceptions and conflicting goals. One complicating factor has been the distinction between personal and public risk. This necessitates explaining the distinction between theoretical public health risk and known personal risks. A model using the lessons learned from clinical practice is presented.
- OSTI ID:
- 468191
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9603210-; TRN: 97:000167-0015
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Air and Waste Management Association (AWMA) waste combustion in boilers and industrial furnaces conference, Kansas City, KS (United States), 26-27 Mar 1996; Other Information: PBD: 1996; Related Information: Is Part Of Waste combustion in boilers and industrial furnaces; PB: 238 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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