Risk Perception and Risk Talk: The Case of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Radiation Risk

• Kusumi, Takashi

  Graduate School of Education, Kyoto University

• Hirayama, Rumi

  Osaka College of Music Junior College

• Kashima, Yoshihisa

  Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne

Abstract

Individuals’ perceptions and their interpersonal communication about a risk event, or risk talk, can play a significant role in the formation of societal responses to the risk event. As they formulate their risk opinions and speak to others, risk information can circulate through their social networks and contribute to the construction of their risk information environment. In the present study, Japanese citizens’ risk perception and risk talk were examined in the context of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear radiation risk. We hypothesized and found that the risk information environment and risk literacy (i.e., competencies to understand and use risk information) interact to influence their risk perception and risk talk. In particular, risk literacy tends to stabilize people's risk perceptions and their risk communications. Nevertheless, there were some subtle differences between risk perception and communication, suggesting the importance of further examination of interpersonal risk communication and its role in the societal responses to risk events.

Journal

• Risk Analysis

  Risk Analysis 37 (12), 2305-2320, 2017-12

  Wiley-Blackwell

Keywords

• Interpersonal communication
• risk communication
• risk literacy
• risk perception

Details

• CRID: 1050282810828694144
• NII Article ID: 120006369427
• ISSN: 02724332
• ISSN: 15396924
• HANDLE: 2433/228171
• Text Lang: en
• Article Type: journal article
• Data Source:
  • IRDB
  • CiNii Articles