Economic and cultural factors affecting hazard perception Flashcards
L1 continued
Introductory paragraph
When we’re warned of a potential risk, people go through many stages which shape their perceptions and behaviour i.e. hear, confirm, understand, believe, personalise, respond etc.
Each stage is affected by age, gender, level of education, nature of the information and how many times the warning is received.
What are the 3 perceptions of hazards?
- Acceptance
- Domination
- Adaptation
Explain what the ‘Acceptance’ perception of hazards is.
This perception relates to people seeing hazards as natural events which are a part of life or acts of God which can’t be controlled.
Events are random and we can only respond to them.
Loss of life and belongings is expected.
(Includes fatalistic tendencies)
What is the ‘Domination’ perception of a hazard?
The perception that hazards are extreme events.
They’re predictable - their impact can be predicted.
People can understand them better by conducting scientific research, or through engineering and use of technology.
What is the ‘Adaptation’ perception of a hazard?
A mixture of domination and acceptance.
The belief is:
- Natural hazards happen and are affected by both human and physical factors.
- The magnitude and frequency of natural hazards can be estimated based on previous experience
- There’s a need to adjust systems, be flexible in responding to the hazard and research new technology to mitigate the hazard
What is the most likely hazard perception in HICs?
Domination - due to the availability of money, technology and skilled personnel
What is the most likely hazard perception in LICs?
Acceptance or adaptation - Less access to resources
Why is the culture of the country important in determining the perception of a hazard?
Traditional religious countries have more ‘Acceptance’ vs westernised society.
