Experience with violent life events influences future perception of risk

Having experience with violent life events strongly influences future risk perceptions, not only in the domain of experienced negative event but also in other domains. In a recent study by Blum, Silver, and Poulin (2014), participants' limited experience with a particular disaster increased risk perception for other disasters, even for those that were never experienced. This result is in line with previous results (e.g. Johnson & Tversky, 1983) and can be understood in terms of the change of the perception of world safety. Namely, the same study revealed that having experience of violent life events corresponds to the lower beliefs about benevolence, which is also linked to higher risk perceptions.

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Cultural Factors: Individual/collective memory

Hazards: Natural hazards, Man-made non-intentional hazards or emergency situations, Man-made intentional hazards

Disaster Phases: Prevention, Preparedness

Types of Actors Concerned: Non-active citizens

Recommendations:

• Use local knowledge, collective memory and shared cultural values to improve disaster preparedness, response and recovery
• Develop risk assessments methodologies, which consider cultural factors, the manner in which people cognitively process information and which employ a gender perspective