Cultural Cognition of the Risks and Benefits of Nanotechnology

Nature Nanotechnology, Vol. 4, No. 2, pp. 87-91, 2009

Yale Law School, Public Law Working

19 Pages Posted: 8 Dec 2009

See all articles by Dan M. Kahan

Dan M. Kahan

Yale Law School

Donald Braman

George Washington University - Law School; Justice Innovation Lab; DC Justice Lab

Paul Slovic

Decision Research; University of Oregon - Department of Psychology

John Gastil

Pennsylvania State University

Geoffrey L. Cohen

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Date Written: December 4, 2009

Abstract

We conducted an experimental public opinion study of the effect of balanced information on nanotechnology risk-benefit perceptions. The study found that subjects did not react in a uniform, much less a uniformly positive manner, but rather polarized along lines consistent with cultural predispositions toward technological risk generally.

Keywords: cultural cognition, nanotechnology, risk perception, biased assimilation, polarization

Suggested Citation

Kahan, Dan M. and Braman, Donald and Slovic, Paul and Gastil, John and Cohen, Geoffrey L., Cultural Cognition of the Risks and Benefits of Nanotechnology (December 4, 2009). Nature Nanotechnology, Vol. 4, No. 2, pp. 87-91, 2009, Yale Law School, Public Law Working, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1518683

Dan M. Kahan (Contact Author)

Yale Law School ( email )

P.O. Box 208215
New Haven, CT 06520-8215
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.culturalcognition.net/kahan

Donald Braman

George Washington University - Law School ( email )

2000 H Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20052
United States
20250341329940572 (Phone)

Justice Innovation Lab ( email )

DC Justice Lab ( email )

1200 U St NW
Washington, DC 20009
20009 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://dcjusticelab.org

Paul Slovic

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)

John Gastil

Pennsylvania State University ( email )

University Park, PA 16802
United States

Geoffrey L. Cohen

affiliation not provided to SSRN

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