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5 - Risk and emotion

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 December 2010

Glynis M. Breakwell
Affiliation:
University of Bath
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This chapter examines the role of emotions in risk perception and decision-making. The traditional dominance of cognitive models in explaining risk estimates and risk-taking is challenged. Instead, the possibility that there are dual processes at work is explored – one of which is embedded in an intuitive, experiential, affective base, while the other is embedded in formal propositional information processing. This proposition has led to research on the affect heuristic. The affect heuristic states that representations of objects and events are tagged to varying degrees with affect, and people refer to this when they make risk judgements. In addition, the evidence that the emotional state of the individual directly influences risk perceptions and actions is examined. The role of worry in risk estimations and the significance of the ‘worried well’ is described. Anticipated regret is also shown to have an impact in risk decisions. The relationship of fear, anger and outrage with risk judgements is considered. The way terror and panic may operate with regard to behaviour in disasters is outlined. It is concluded that an analysis of risk perception and decision-making that fails to consider the affect attached to a hazard or the emotional state of the individual is inevitably flawed. It is not appropriate to talk about the global primacy of either cognitive or affective components in the determination of risk reactions. A model of risk appreciation that incorporates both streams of influence and which details how they interact is necessary – if not yet available.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2007

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  • Risk and emotion
  • Glynis M. Breakwell, University of Bath
  • Book: The Psychology of Risk
  • Online publication: 16 December 2010
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511819315.006
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  • Risk and emotion
  • Glynis M. Breakwell, University of Bath
  • Book: The Psychology of Risk
  • Online publication: 16 December 2010
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511819315.006
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Risk and emotion
  • Glynis M. Breakwell, University of Bath
  • Book: The Psychology of Risk
  • Online publication: 16 December 2010
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511819315.006
Available formats
×