hazard perception

Question 1

what factors is hazard perception influenced by

Answer 1

-socioeconomic status
-education
-employment
-religion and culture
-past experience
-values, personality and expectations

Question 2

what is the difference between a hazard and a disaster and when does a hazard become a disaster

Answer 2

it becomes a disaster when 10+ people are killed, 100+ are affected, a state of emergency is declared and international assistance is called for

Question 3

why do people live in risky areas

Answer 3

-fertile soils
-tourism
-they do not believe it is a risk
-research
-do not have the funds to move

Question 4

how is risk measured

Answer 4

risk (r)= (frequency or magnitude of a hazard (h) x vulnerability (v)) / capacity to cope ir adapt (c)

Question 5

what is risk

Answer 5

the probability of harmful consequences or expected losses (deaths, injury, property, livelihood, economic activity disrupted or environment damaged) resulting from interactions between natural or human induced hazards and vulnerable conditions

Question 6

what are the three ways that people perceive hazards, each of these have economic and cultural determinants

Answer 6

fatalism, domination and adaptation

Question 7

what is fatalism

Answer 7

it is where there is an acceptance that it would be likely that a hazard would occur, they see hazards as being a part of life or even as an act of god, the losses that they experience are seen as inevitable

Question 8

what is domination

Answer 8

this perspective suggests that hazards are predictable and they they can be better understood with scientific research

Question 9

what is adaptation

Answer 9

this perspective takes the view that hazards are influenced by natural and human events and so we can change our lives to reduce the impacts.

Question 10

how can we improve hazard perception

Answer 10

the most effective way of ensuring accurate hazard perception is through experience and education