Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/27046
Title: Cultural Worldviews and Natural Hazard Risk Perception: A Pilot Study of Australian Adults
Contributor(s): Parsons, Melissa  (author)orcid ; Lykins, Amy  (author)orcid 
Publication Date: 2017-09
Open Access: Yes
Handle Link: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/27046
Open Access Link: https://www.bnhcrc.com.au/publications/researchproceedings2017Open Access Link
Abstract: Perception of the risks of natural hazards is considered to be one of the precursors of desirable behaviors of mitigation, preparation, and resilience. However, the processes of risk perception are complex and are likely related to underlying cognitive factors associated with information processing. Cultural worldview theory suggests that people actively choose what to fear (and how much to fear it) in order to support their ways of life (Kahan, 2012). Aspects of these choices may include prioritizing public vs. private interests, choice vs. control, and differing levels of belief and/or adherence to egalitarianism, hierarchy, individualism, and communitarianism. To assess whether and how cultural worldviews relate to perceptions of risk to natural hazards we recruited 503 residents of New South Wales (stratified between urban and regional areas) who completed a cultural worldview questionnaire and a new questionnaire developed by the researchers to assess four aspects of natural hazards: 1) perceptions of the risk of natural hazards; 2) perceptions of control over natural hazards; 3) perceptions of responsibility for natural hazard preparation and outcome; and 4) trust in different sources of information about natural hazards. Results indicated significant but varying relationships among cultural cognition types (i.e., egalitarianism, hierarchy, individualism, communitarianism) and the four aspects of natural hazard risk perception. Some consistency was found regarding how cultural cognition types predicted risk perception across four different types of natural hazards (bushfire, flood, severe thunderstorm, earthquake) but this also varied by geographical location. Understanding the influence of cultural worldviews on attitudes toward natural hazards might lead to community engagement messages orientated to the views of egalitarianism, hierarchy, individualism, and communitarianism.
Publication Type: Conference Publication
Conference Details: AFAC 2017: Australasian Fire Authorities Council and Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Conference, Sydney, Australia, 4th - 6th September, 2017
Source of Publication: Research Forum 2017: proceedings from the Research Forum at the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC & AFAC Conference, p. 307-315
Publisher: Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC
Place of Publication: Australia
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: 040699 Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience not elsewhere classified
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020: 370903 Natural hazards
520399 Clinical and health psychology not elsewhere classified
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: 961005 Natural Hazards in Fresh, Ground and Surface Water Environments
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020: 190499 Natural hazards not elsewhere classified
HERDC Category Description: E2 Non-Refereed Scholarly Conference Publication
Publisher/associated links: https://www.bnhcrc.com.au/publications/researchproceedings2017
Appears in Collections:Conference Publication
Institute for Rural Futures
School of Environmental and Rural Science
School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
School of Psychology

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