Psychology of Risk Perception

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

The assumption that predictions for the future must be discounted by using higher probabilities is a rationalization to dismiss a future risk.

False

The 75 men who died in the Quebec Bridge collapse in 1907 were all Mohawk Indians.

False

Engineers face only one problem with public conceptions of safety, which is the overly optimistic attitude.

False

People's fear of air pollution, toxic wastes, or nuclear power is always emotional and irrational.

False Signup and view all the answers

The public perceives emerging technologies as having lesser risks and greater benefits than experts.

False Signup and view all the answers

The Quebec Bridge collapse in 1907 had a significant impact on the Caughnawaga community's demographic profile.

True Signup and view all the answers

Mohawk steelworkers continued to work in large crews after the Quebec Bridge collapse in 1907.

False Signup and view all the answers

Engineers are not responsible for taking into account public perceptions of risk in their designs.

False Signup and view all the answers

The text states that the assumption of 'out of sight, out of mind' is a rationalization to dismiss a past risk.

False Signup and view all the answers

The public's perception of risk is always aligned with the statistical probability of an accident occurring.

False Signup and view all the answers

What is a common misconception about familiar activities or technologies?

They present no real risks Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of misperceptions of numbers on risk assessment?

They make us overlook losses that are far greater than the numbers reveal Signup and view all the answers

What is the main problem with industry leaders' attitude towards public concerns about risk?

They misperceive legitimate concerns as emotional or irrational Signup and view all the answers

What is the impact of the Quebec Bridge collapse on the Mohawk Indians' approach to steelworking?

They started to work in smaller groups on multiple projects Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between the public's perception of risk and the statistical probability of an accident?

The public's perception of risk is unrelated to the statistical probability of an accident Signup and view all the answers

What is the main responsibility of engineers in terms of public perceptions of risk?

To recognize and take into account public perceptions of risk in their designs Signup and view all the answers

What is the common rationalization to dismiss a future risk, mentioned in the text?

The assumption that predictions for the future must be discounted by using lower probabilities Signup and view all the answers

What is the impact of the Quebec Bridge collapse on the Caughnawaga community's economic base?

It had a significant impact on the community's economic base Signup and view all the answers

What is the general difference between the public's perception of emerging technologies and that of experts?

The public perceives emerging technologies as having greater risks and lesser benefits than experts Signup and view all the answers

What is the main challenge engineers face in terms of public conceptions of safety?

The public is overly optimistic about safety, and dreads rare but catastrophic accidents Signup and view all the answers

A risk is considered acceptable if the potential victims are not identifiable beforehand.

False Signup and view all the answers

Voluntary risks are not a factor that affects the perception of risk.

False Signup and view all the answers

The cultural tradition of a community or society does not influence the perception of risk.

False Signup and view all the answers

The probabilities of harm or benefit are always known or perceived accurately.

False Signup and view all the answers

Job-related pressures do not affect people's perception of risk.

False Signup and view all the answers

The immediate noticeability of the effects of a risky activity or situation does not influence the perception of risk.

False Signup and view all the answers

The implementation of safety measures, such as guards covering exposed parts of the engine, is unnecessary for dirt bikes.

False Signup and view all the answers

All-terrain three-wheel vehicles are safer than dirt bikes due to their added stability.

False Signup and view all the answers

John and Ann's concern about the chemical plant's risks is unfounded, given the official inspectors' reassurance.

False Signup and view all the answers

The Smiths are more concerned about the risks of air pollution than the risks of riding motorbikes.

False Signup and view all the answers

Presenting information about risks in a more dramatic way can increase people's perception of those risks.

True Signup and view all the answers

The public's perception of risk is always aligned with the statistical probability of an accident occurring.

False Signup and view all the answers

The Quebec Bridge collapse in 1907 resulted in the deaths of 128 people.

False Signup and view all the answers

Engineers face a single problem with public conceptions of safety, which is the overly optimistic attitude towards familiar activities.

False Signup and view all the answers

The public perceives emerging technologies as having lesser risks and greater benefits than experts.

False Signup and view all the answers

The assumption that predictions for the future must be discounted by using higher probabilities is a rationalization to dismiss a future risk.

False Signup and view all the answers

The deaths of the 75 men in the Quebec Bridge collapse had a minimal impact on the Caughnawaga community's social fabric.

False Signup and view all the answers

Industry leaders always acknowledge the legitimacy of public concerns about risk.

False Signup and view all the answers

Engineers are not responsible for recognizing public perceptions of risk in their designs.

False Signup and view all the answers

Air quality standards in the workplace are generally more stringent than those in the public environment.

False Signup and view all the answers

John Smith's perception of risk in his job is affected by the fact that he is being paid to take risks.

True Signup and view all the answers

Musculoskeletal disorders like carpal tunnel syndrome are widely recognized as meriting worker's compensation in the United States.

False Signup and view all the answers

The proximity effect in risk perception only arises in the short term, but not over time.

False Signup and view all the answers

Unions and occupational health and safety regulations have been successful in eliminating workplace risks in all industries.

False Signup and view all the answers

Engineers are only responsible for taking into account the safety concerns of workers who are carefully screened for their work.

False Signup and view all the answers

Designing safe exits is a crucial aspect of ensuring that users can safely escape a product in case of failure

True Signup and view all the answers

The public's perception of risk is always influenced by the cultural tradition of a community or society

True Signup and view all the answers

Engineers are only responsible for ensuring the safety of carefully screened workers

False Signup and view all the answers

Presenting risk information in a dramatic way can decrease people's perception of those risks

False Signup and view all the answers

Industry leaders always acknowledge the legitimacy of public concerns about risk

False Signup and view all the answers

The design of safe exits is a crucial aspect of product safety, because it ensures that users can safely escape a product even if it operates correctly.

False Signup and view all the answers

The public's perception of risk is always influenced by the cultural tradition of a community or society.

True Signup and view all the answers

Engineers have a responsibility to recognize and take into account public perceptions of risk in their designs.

True Signup and view all the answers

The assumption that predictions for the future must be discounted by using higher probabilities is a rationalization to accept a future risk.

False Signup and view all the answers

Designing safe exits is only necessary for products that are likely to fail frequently.

False Signup and view all the answers

Psychology of Risk Perception

Podcast Beta

Questions and Answers

The assumption that predictions for the future must be discounted by using higher probabilities is a rationalization to dismiss a future risk.

The 75 men who died in the Quebec Bridge collapse in 1907 were all Mohawk Indians.

Engineers face only one problem with public conceptions of safety, which is the overly optimistic attitude.

People's fear of air pollution, toxic wastes, or nuclear power is always emotional and irrational.

The public perceives emerging technologies as having lesser risks and greater benefits than experts.

The Quebec Bridge collapse in 1907 had a significant impact on the Caughnawaga community's demographic profile.

Mohawk steelworkers continued to work in large crews after the Quebec Bridge collapse in 1907.

Engineers are not responsible for taking into account public perceptions of risk in their designs.

The text states that the assumption of 'out of sight, out of mind' is a rationalization to dismiss a past risk.

The public's perception of risk is always aligned with the statistical probability of an accident occurring.

What is a common misconception about familiar activities or technologies?

What is the effect of misperceptions of numbers on risk assessment?

What is the main problem with industry leaders' attitude towards public concerns about risk?

What is the impact of the Quebec Bridge collapse on the Mohawk Indians' approach to steelworking?

What is the relationship between the public's perception of risk and the statistical probability of an accident?

What is the main responsibility of engineers in terms of public perceptions of risk?

What is the common rationalization to dismiss a future risk, mentioned in the text?

What is the impact of the Quebec Bridge collapse on the Caughnawaga community's economic base?

What is the general difference between the public's perception of emerging technologies and that of experts?

What is the main challenge engineers face in terms of public conceptions of safety?

A risk is considered acceptable if the potential victims are not identifiable beforehand.

Voluntary risks are not a factor that affects the perception of risk.

The cultural tradition of a community or society does not influence the perception of risk.

The probabilities of harm or benefit are always known or perceived accurately.

Job-related pressures do not affect people's perception of risk.

The immediate noticeability of the effects of a risky activity or situation does not influence the perception of risk.

The implementation of safety measures, such as guards covering exposed parts of the engine, is unnecessary for dirt bikes.

All-terrain three-wheel vehicles are safer than dirt bikes due to their added stability.

John and Ann's concern about the chemical plant's risks is unfounded, given the official inspectors' reassurance.

The Smiths are more concerned about the risks of air pollution than the risks of riding motorbikes.

Presenting information about risks in a more dramatic way can increase people's perception of those risks.

The public's perception of risk is always aligned with the statistical probability of an accident occurring.

The Quebec Bridge collapse in 1907 resulted in the deaths of 128 people.

Engineers face a single problem with public conceptions of safety, which is the overly optimistic attitude towards familiar activities.

The public perceives emerging technologies as having lesser risks and greater benefits than experts.

The assumption that predictions for the future must be discounted by using higher probabilities is a rationalization to dismiss a future risk.

The deaths of the 75 men in the Quebec Bridge collapse had a minimal impact on the Caughnawaga community's social fabric.

Industry leaders always acknowledge the legitimacy of public concerns about risk.

Engineers are not responsible for recognizing public perceptions of risk in their designs.

Air quality standards in the workplace are generally more stringent than those in the public environment.

John Smith's perception of risk in his job is affected by the fact that he is being paid to take risks.

Musculoskeletal disorders like carpal tunnel syndrome are widely recognized as meriting worker's compensation in the United States.

The proximity effect in risk perception only arises in the short term, but not over time.

Unions and occupational health and safety regulations have been successful in eliminating workplace risks in all industries.

Engineers are only responsible for taking into account the safety concerns of workers who are carefully screened for their work.

Designing safe exits is a crucial aspect of ensuring that users can safely escape a product in case of failure

The public's perception of risk is always influenced by the cultural tradition of a community or society

Engineers are only responsible for ensuring the safety of carefully screened workers

Presenting risk information in a dramatic way can decrease people's perception of those risks

Industry leaders always acknowledge the legitimacy of public concerns about risk

The design of safe exits is a crucial aspect of product safety, because it ensures that users can safely escape a product even if it operates correctly.

The public's perception of risk is always influenced by the cultural tradition of a community or society.

Engineers have a responsibility to recognize and take into account public perceptions of risk in their designs.

The assumption that predictions for the future must be discounted by using higher probabilities is a rationalization to accept a future risk.

Designing safe exits is only necessary for products that are likely to fail frequently.

More Quizzes Like This

Risk Perception and Population Metrics Quiz

Hazard Perception and Lifestyle Factors

La Perception du Risque des Vaccins

Risk Perception Effects in Health