The role of behavioral experience in judging risks.

Author(s)
Halpern-Felsher, B.L. Millstein, S.G. Ellen, J.M. Adler, N.E Tschann, J.M. & Biehl, M.
Year
Abstract

This study used conditional risk assessments to examine the role of behavioral experiences in risk judgments. Adolescents and young adults (ages 10-30; N = 577) were surveyed on their risk judgments for natural hazards and behavior-linked risks, including their personal experiences with these events. Results indicated that participants who had experienced a natural disaster or engaged in a particular risk behavior estimated their chance of experiencing a negative outcome resulting from that event or behavior as less likely than individuals without such experience. These findings challenge the notion that risk judgments motivate behavior and instead suggest that risk judgments may be reflective of behavioral experiences. The results have implications for health education and risk communication. (Author/publisher)

Request publication

9 + 6 =
Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. E.g. for 1+3, enter 4.

Publication

Library number
20051797 ST [electronic version only]
Source

Health Psychology, Vol. 20 (2001), No. 2 (March), p. 120-126, 30 ref.

Our collection

This publication is one of our other publications, and part of our extensive collection of road safety literature, that also includes the SWOV publications.