Risk Perception

Environmental Risk Perception

Name

PSY/460

July 21, 2014

Instructor

Environmental Risk Perception

When it comes to risk perception, individuals can greatly vary on the degree in which the risk is evaluated. There are a number of reasons for this. According to Steg (2013), there is much to consider about differing risk perceptions. Emotions, morals, and values may all play an important role is perception. The fact is that individuals tend to overestimate, and sometimes underestimate when judging dangers. Individuals often rely on memory to easily retrieve relevant instances for judgment. When it comes to environmental issues, it is easy to find opposing viewpoints. Take global warming as an example.

According to Weber (2011), global warming involves much more than a change in climate. It greatly involves a wide set of physical phenomena and cause. Global warming was recognized in 1959, when large levels of atmospheric carbon monoxide were reported in Hawaii. By 1987, the issue was deemed important, and congress passed many acts to combat global warming. The controversy remains when it comes to the seriousness of the issue, and who is to blame for it. What we do know is that the Earth is in fact, warming. Many believe the warming is due to human activities such as the burning of oil, and coal. This issue certainly poses particular risks for environmental and human resources. Whether the risk is high, or low, is up to individual perception of risk.

According to Kerr (2013), the risk is extremely high, and success when it comes to combating global warming is slim. He describes his findings as bad news, continually getting worse. It sis stated that controlling greenhouse emissions in time to make a difference is not likely to happen, and that a serious and dangerous price will be paid as a result. Kerr (2013) suggests that very few scenarios can give us the result needed. Cutting edge technology and innovation is what is needed. Yet, innovation and technology at its best does not guarantee success. Kerr (2013) paints a grim picture of global warming, and the very combating effort to correct the very controversial issue. It is stated that the only chance of combating global warming will take huge efforts, cutting edge technology, and extreme innovation. On the other hand, there are those who see a different perspective.

According to Lindzen (2013), the hysteria associated with global warming represents a susceptible public that politicians take great advantage of. It is greatly associated with environmentalists, and an overbearing media. Global warming as a high risk issue is basically described as a lie. Changes in climate at such a small degree, needs no real external cause. According to Lindzen (2013), climate is always changing, and the Earth has a natural history of doing so. There have been ice-ages, and warmer periods alike. In fact, there have been periods warmer than the current Earthly temperatures, and the glaciers have been shifting since the 19th century. Just as Kerr (2013) looked to emissions as the cause, Lindzen (2013) suggests that the oceans and the heat moved around the Earth’s crust, is enough to account for all climate change.