Higher perceived power and control linked with the leadership position of the US in the world linked to high levels of optimism bias with regards perceived risk of terrorism

However, results of this study did not confirm the authors' expectations the American health workers showed the lowest level of perceived risk, compared to Japanese and Argentinean participants (Gierlach et al., 2010). At the same time, this group of participants showed the highest level of optimism bias (Gierlach et al., 2010). The authors suggested that American participants might have higher perceived power and control, linked with the leadership position of the US in the world (Gierlach et al., 2010). This perceived power might have influenced the level of optimistic bias, which in turn lowered the level of perceived risk (Gierlach et al., 2010). The highest level of perceived risk of terrorism found with Japanese participants was explained with the historical residual of Japanese having been the victims of two atomic bombs and having been exposed to terrorism threats from China throughout the history (Gierlach et al., 2010).

Note: See source document for full reference.

Cultural Factors: Norms/values, Ethnicity

Hazards: Man-made intentional hazards

Disaster Phases: Prevention

Types of Actors Concerned: Active citizens, Healthcare and emergency services

Recommendations:

• Develop guidelines for disaster practitioners that take into consideration the different needs of and approaches to different ethnical groups
• Develop risk assessments methodologies, which consider cultural factors, the manner in which people cognitively process information and which employ a gender perspective