Risk perception is incorporated in many (health) behavior change theories, such as:
• Protection Motivation Theory
• Health Belief Model
• I-Change Model
• Health Action Process Approach, etc.
It is seen as a precondition for motivation and informed decision making. People are more
motivated to behave healthy if they perceive themselves to be at risk. You need adequate
knowledge of the risk to be able to make an informed decision.
Risk perception = severity + susceptibility.
→ Behavior isn’t only based on cognitive judgements (what people think), but even more on
affective likelihood beliefs (what people feel).
Risk communication goals:
• Behavior change (people do not seem to perceive the risk)
• Provide reassurance when people are outraged/far more concerned than expected based on
a scientific point of view
• To inform people so that they can make informed decisions (informed decision making)
→ Goal: to reach accurate risk perceptions of risk (not necessarily ‘higher perceived risk’)
and enable people to make an informed decision.
The perception of risk likelihood can guide (health-protective) behavior. People are
often unrealistically optimistic (=optimistic bias) about their vulnerability and underestimate
their likelihood, especially when the risk is partly controllable. Therefore, risk information
is often included in health interventions to influence individuals’ risk perception.
→ Not a one-size-fits-all way.
Probability estimates are affected by:
• Cognitive capacities and characteristics of the person who is receiving the message (e.g.
numeracy, graph literacy).
• Context (e.g. the place where the message is given).
• Risk perception methods (e.g. formats, framing).
→ Affect motivation and ability of people to process information: central/systematic vs.
peripheral/heuristic → the more central (deliberately) the processing of the message, the
higher the likelihood that people accept the message and will take action.
Presentation of risk information
The communication of risk information is a fundamental aspect of nearly all health
promotion interventions. However, no consensus exists regarding the most effective
way to provide people with risk information. Two approaches to risk communication:
• Numerical probability-based approach = presentation of numerical information
regarding the probability of a risk/health problem occurring.
o Provides precise information regarding probabilities.
o Effectiveness is limited, since people have difficulty understanding and using
quantitative data → cognitive (misunderstanding of information) and motivational
(people mostly engage with favourable information) barriers. It can increase public
awareness of potential health problems, but it doesn’t affect perceptions of personal risk
that much.
• Contextualized approach = presentation of informational context (antecedents and/or
consequences of a health problem) in which to understand and interpret individual risk.
1
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller gzwstudent. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $7.50. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.