Risk Perception and Affect

Current Directions in Psychological Science, Vol. 15, No. 6, pp. 322-325, 2006

Posted: 15 Mar 2010

See all articles by Paul Slovic

Paul Slovic

Decision Research; University of Oregon - Department of Psychology

Ellen Peters

Ohio State University - Psychology Department; Decision Research; University of Oregon

Date Written: March 11, 2010

Abstract

Humans perceive and act on risk in two fundamental ways. Risk as feelings refers to individuals' instinctive and intuitive reactions to danger. Risk as analysis brings logic, reason, and scientific deliberation to bear on risk management. Reliance on risk as feelings is described as "the affect heuristic." This article traces the development of this heuristic and discusses some of the important ways that it impacts how people perceive and evaluate risk.

Keywords: risk perception, risk analysis, the affect heuristic

Suggested Citation

Slovic, Paul and Peters, Ellen, Risk Perception and Affect (March 11, 2010). Current Directions in Psychological Science, Vol. 15, No. 6, pp. 322-325, 2006, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1569106

Paul Slovic (Contact Author)

Decision Research ( email )

1201 Oak Street, Suite 200
Eugene, OR 97401
United States
541-485-2400 (Phone)
541-485-2403 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.decisionresearch.org

University of Oregon - Department of Psychology ( email )

Eugene, OR 97403
United States
541-485-2400 (Phone)

Ellen Peters

Ohio State University - Psychology Department ( email )

Blankenship Hall-2010
901 Woody Hayes Drive
Columbus, OH OH 43210
United States

Decision Research ( email )

1201 Oak Street, Suite 200
Eugene, OR 97401
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.decisionresearch.org

University of Oregon ( email )

1280 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403
United States

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