Public concern about industrial hazards
In this paper the authors propose adopting a noncognitive perspective for the understanding of people's anxiety or, its opposite, feelings of security about living near hazardous industrial facilities. Results of their empirical investigations among residents of a heavily industrialized area indicate that at least four qualitatively different response patterns exist: the Secure, the Accepting, the Defensive, and the Vigilant response. In this order manifest anxiety increases, which increase is shown to be a function of the assessment of the threat, of the opportunities for personal control (specific), and of hope (generalized) to bring about a better environment by one's own action. As an application of the usefulness of this typology they discuss the various explanations for the often-observed male/female difference in anxiety regarding industrial threat.
- Research Organization:
- IMSA Instituut voor Milieu- en Systeemanalyse, Amsterdam (Netherlands)
- OSTI ID:
- 6167240
- Journal Information:
- Risk Anal.; (United States), Vol. 8:2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
POLICY AND ECONOMY
HAZARDS
PUBLIC OPINION
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
RISK ASSESSMENT
ATTITUDES
CHEMICAL PLANTS
COMMUNICATIONS
DECISION MAKING
INFORMATION DISSEMINATION
MEN
NETHERLANDS
PETROCHEMICAL PLANTS
PETROLEUM REFINERIES
PSYCHOLOGY
PUBLIC INFORMATION
PUBLIC POLICY
PUBLIC RELATIONS
SITE SELECTION
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
SURVEYS
WOMEN
ANIMALS
EUROPE
FEMALES
INFORMATION
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
MALES
MAMMALS
MAN
PRIMATES
VERTEBRATES
WESTERN EUROPE
290300* - Energy Planning & Policy- Environment
Health
& Safety