Browsing by Author "Flynn, James"
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Item Open Access Gender, Race, and Perception of Environmental Health Risks(1994) Flynn, James; Slovic, Paul; Mertz, C. K.This paper reports the results of a national survey in which perceptions of environmental health risks were measured for 1275 white and 214 nonwhite persons. The results showed that white women perceived risks to be much higher than did white men, a result that is consistent with previous studies. However, this gender difference was not true of nonwhite women and men, whose perceptions of risk were quite similar. Most striking was the finding that white males tended to differ from everyone else in their attitudes and perceptions--on average, they perceived risks as much smaller and much more acceptable than did other people. These results suggest that socio-political factors such as power, status, alienation, and trust are strong determiners of people's perception and acceptance of risks.Item Open Access Health risk perception in Canada I: Rating hazards, sources of information and responsibility for health protection(1995) Krewski, Daniel; Slovic, Paul; Bartlett, Sheryl; Flynn, James; Mertz, C. K.A national survey of 1500 Canadians was carried out to assess public perception of health risks. Questionnaire items focused on ratings of perceived risk, sources of information on health risks and responsibility for risk management, attitude and opinions about risk, and risk taking and risk-avoiding behaviors in which the respondent has engaged. Respondents cited the news media as their most common source of information on health risks, but expressed most confidence in risk information provided by the medical profession. Respondents assigned risk management responsibility to many groups and organizations, but perceived medical doctors and Health and Welfare Canada as doing the best job of fulfilling their responsibilities. The Canadian public reported a high degree of perceived risk for many hazards, and were particularly sensitive to lifestyle risks such as cigarette smoking, street drugs, alcohol, AIDS and suntanning that are also of concern to health professionals. Other findings included a high degree of concern about health risks associated with industrial pollution and chemical products (with the exception of medicines), a widespread belief that a risk-free environment was an achievable goal, and sizable differences in perception of risk by gender, age, education and region.Item Open Access Health risk perception in Canada II: Worldviews, attitudes and opinions(1995) Krewski, Daniel; Slovic, Paul; Flynn, James; Mertz, C. K.In this article, we present the results of a national survey of 1500 Canadians on their attitudes and opinions about health risks. Ratings of perceived risk, sources of information on health risks and responsibility for risk management were also investigated, with findings reported separately. A high degree of concern about health risks was associated with industrial pollution and chemical products (with the exception of medicines), with almost complete agreement that the land, air and water are more contaminated than ever. In addition, there was widespread belief that a risk‐free environment was an achievable goal, and an unwillingness to accept some health risks to improve the economy. Lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, and tobacco smoking were perceived to be important modifiers of health risk. On the other hand, many respondents endorsed the idea that they had little control over the risks to their health.Item Open Access Health-risk perception in Canada(1993) Slovic, Paul; Flynn, James; Mertz, C. K.; Mullican, L.Item Open Access Nuclear power and the public: A comparative study of risk perception in France and the United States(2000) Slovic, Paul; Flynn, James; Poumadere, M.; Mays, C.This study is an attempt to understand attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors with respect to nuclear power and several other technological risk sources. A unique feature of the study is a comparison between public views in the United States, where nuclear energy is resisted, and France, where nuclear energy appears to be embraced...Item Open Access Perceived Risk, Stigma, and Potential Economic Impacts of a High-Level Nuclear Waste Repository in Nevada(1991) Slovic, Paul; Layman, Mark; Kraus, Nancy; Flynn, James; Chalmers, James; Gesell, GailThis study investigates the potential impacts of the proposed nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, upon tourism, retirement and job-related migration, and business development in Las Vegas and the state. Adverse impacts may be expected to result from perceptions of risk, stigmatization, and socially amplified reactions to "unfortunate events" associated with the repository (major and minor accidents, discoveries of radiation releases, evidence of mismanagement, attempts to sabotage or disrupt the facility, etc.). The conceptual underpinnings of risk perception, stigmatization, and social amplification are discussed and empirical data are presented to demonstrate how nuclear images associated with Las Vegas and the State of Nevada might trigger adverse economic effects. The possibility that intense negative imagery associated with the repository may cause significant harm to Nevada's economy can no longer be ignored by serious attempts to assess the risks and impacts of this unique facility. The behavioral processes described here appear relevant as well to the social impact assessment of any proposed facility that produces, uses, transports, or disposes of hazardous materials.Item Open Access Perceived Risk, Trust, and Nuclear Waste: Lessons from Yucca Mountain(1993) Slovic, Paul; Layman, Mark; Flynn, JamesItem Open Access Perceived risk, trust, and the politics of nuclear waste(1991) Slovic, Paul; Flynn, James; Layman, MarkThe Department of Energy's program for disposing of high-level radioactive wastes has been impeded by overwhelming political opposition fueled by public perceptions of risk. Analysis of these perceptions shows them to be deeply rooted in images of fear and dread that have been present since the discovery of radioactivity. The development and use of nuclear weapons linked these images to reality and the mishandling of radioactive wastes from the nation's military weapons facilities has contributed toward creating a profound state of distrust that cannot be erased quickly or easily. Postponing the permanent repository and employing dry-cask storage of wastes on site would provide the time necessary for difficult social and political issues to be resolved.Item Open Access Psychological and Social Impacts Associated with Contamination from the Woolfolk Chemical Works Plant in Fort Valley, Georgia(Decision Research, 1996-09-04) Slovic, Paul; Satterfield, Terre; Mertz, C. K.; Flynn, JamesIn February of 1996 a study of current and prior residents of the neighborhood adjacent to the Woolfolk Chemical Works Plant (a.k.a. Canadyne, a.k.a. SureCo, a.ka. the Dust House) in Fort Valley, Georgia was commissioned to assess psychological and social impacts stemming from the above-named chemical plant~ All aspects of the study were informed by the collective expertise of the study team and by extant peer-reviewed literature, on the subject of the perception of risk (especially toxicological risk) and the human experience of contamination (e.g., Edelstein, 1988; Kraus, Malmfors, & Slavic, 1992; Slovic, 1987}. The study had the following, specific objectives: 1. To interview all adult plaintiffs in the Jacob's Alley case as well as all adult plaintiffs in at least one of six related cases whose property' (or properties) had been tested for contaminants; 2. To examine specific expressions of perceived risk, particularly those which relate to fear, dread, control, uncertainty' and trust; 3. To obtain individual respondents' perceptions and qualitative evaluations of home, neighborhood, community, and plant; 4. To examine affective and emotive responses to neighborhood and residential stimuli; 5. To record respondents' thinking and concerns about their past, current and future health, as well as general feelings regarding peace-of-mind; 6. To record self-reported signs of emotional and physical distress; 7. To obtain information about interviewees' experiences and opinions about testing for contaminants, damage remediation, and lay/ expert communication.Item Open Access Risk perception, trust, and nuclear waste: Lessons from Yucca Mountain(1991-06-23) Slovic, Paul; Layman, Mark; Flynn, JamesItem Open Access Stigma happens: Social problems in the siting of nuclear-waste facilities(1994) Slovic, Paul; Flynn, James; Gregory, RobinThe paper by Metz challenges the view that stigma associated with a nuclear waste repository might lead to significant economic losses to the host region. We have been invited to comment on the general issues raised by this paper. We find that much of the evidence presented in the paper consists of factual and conceptual errors and misrepresentations of the research literature. Based on our review of evidence documenting the social and economic impacts of perceived risk, we conclude that stigma is an important phenomenon that is symptomatic of fundamental problems with the way in which nuclear waste facilities are sited.Item Open Access Vegetation Management in Ontario's Forests: Survey Research of Public and Professional Perspectives(Decision Research, 1995-08) Slovic, Paul; Johnson, Stephen; Satterfield, Terre; Flynn, James; Gregory, Robin; Mertz, C.K.; Wagner, RobinItem Open Access What comes to mind when you hear the words "Nuclear Waste Repository"? A Study of 10,000 Images(Nevada Agency for Nuclear Projects, 1990-11) Slovic, Paul; Layman, Mark; Flynn, JamesAttempts by the federal government and the nuclear industry to develop sites for disposal of high-level and low-level radioactive wastes have been stymied by public and political opposition. The record of strenuous protest against nuclear waste repositories, as well as the findings of numerous public opinion surveys, make it clear that public opposition is widespread and deeply felt. It is also clear that there is an immense gap between the perceptions of the public and the views of technical experts and nuclear-industry officials.