Affect, Values, and Nanotechnology Risk Perceptions: An Experimental Investigation
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Date
2007-03
Authors
Kahan, Dan
Slovic, Paul
Braman, Donald
Gastil, John
Cohen, Geoffrey
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Yale Law School
Abstract
Despite knowing little about nanotechnology (so to speak), members of
the public readily form opinions on whether its potential risks outweigh
its potential benefits. On what basis are they forming their judgments?
How are their views likely to evolve as they become exposed to more information
about this novel science? We conducted a survey experiment
(N = 1,850) to answer these questions. We found that public perceptions
of nanotechnology risks, like public perceptions of societal risks generally,
are largely affect driven: individuals’ visceral reactions to nanotechnology
(ones likely based on attitudes toward environmental risks generally) explain
more of the variance in individuals’ perceptions of nanotechnology’s
risks and benefits than does any other influence. These views are not
static: even a small amount of information can generate changes in perceptions.
But how those perceptions change depends heavily on individuals’
values. Using a between-subjects design, we found that individuals
exposed to balanced information polarize along cultural and political lines
relative to individuals not exposed to information. We discuss what these
findings imply for understanding of risk perceptions generally and for the
future of nanotechnology as a subject of political conflict and regulation.
Description
41 pages
Keywords
Risk, Norms, Cultural cognition, Emotions, Nanotechnology
Citation
Kahan, D. M., Slovic, P., Braman, D., Gastil, J., & Cohen, G. L. (2007, March). Affect, values, and nanotechnology risk perceptions: An experimental investigation (GWU Legal Studies Research Paper No. 261) Retrieved from http://ssrn.com/abstract=968652