Values and risk perceptions: a cross-cultural examination
Author
Kaptan, G.
Shiloh, S.
Önkal, D.
Date
2013Source Title
Risk Analysis
Print ISSN
0272-4332
Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell Publishing
Volume
33
Issue
2
Pages
318 - 332
Language
English
Type
ArticleItem Usage Stats
123
views
views
126
downloads
downloads
Abstract
This article examines the relationship between values and risk perceptions regarding terror attacks. The participants in the study are university students from Turkey (n = 536) and Israel (n = 298). Schwartz value theory (1992, 1994) is applied to conceptualize and measure values. Cognitive (perceived likelihood and perceived severity) and emotional (fear, helplessness, anger, distress, insecurity, hopelessness, sadness, and anxiety) responses about the potential of (i) being personally exposed to a terror attack, and (ii) a terror attack that may occur in one's country are assessed to measure risk perceptions. Comparison of the two groups suggests that the Turkish participants are significantly more emotional about terror risks than the Israeli respondents. Both groups perceive the risk of a terror attack that may occur in their country more likely than the risk of being personally exposed to a terror attack. No significant differences are found in emotional representations and perceived severity ratings regarding these risks. Results provide support for the existence of a link between values and risk perceptions of terror attacks. In both countries, self-direction values are negatively related to emotional representations, whereas security values are positively correlated with emotions; hedonism and stimulation values are negatively related to perceived likelihood. Current findings are discussed in relation to previous results, theoretical approaches (the social amplification of risk framework and cultural theory of risk), and practical implications (increasing community support for a course of action, training programs for risk communicators). © 2012 Society for Risk Analysis.
Keywords
Cross-cultural comparisonsRisk perception
Terror
Values
Community support
Course of action
Cross-cultural comparisons
Cultural theory
Security value
Terror attacks
Theoretical approach
Training program
Turkishs
University students
Value theory
Values
Risk perception
Behavioral research
Cultural factor
Adolescent
Adult
Cultural characteristics
Young adult
Turkey
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/11693/21094Published Version (Please cite this version)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1539-6924.2012.01875.xCollections
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Cognitive and emotional representations of terror attacks: a cross-cultural exploration
Shiloh, S.; Güvenç, G.; Önkal D. (Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, 2007)A questionnaire measuring cognitive and affective representations of terror risk was developed and tested in Turkey and Israel. Participants in the study were university students from the two countries (n = 351). Four ... -
Cultural Bases for Self-Evaluation: Seeing Oneself Positively in Different Cultural Contexts
Becker, M.; Vignoles, V. L.; Owe, E.; Easterbrook, M. J.; Brown, R.; Smith, P. B.; Bond, M. H.; Regalia, C.; Manzi, C.; Brambilla, M.; Aldhafri, S.; González, R.; Carrasco, D.; Cadena, M. P.; Lay, S.; Gallo I. S.; Torres, A.; Camino L.; Özgen E.; Güner, Ü.E.; Yamakoğlu, N.; Lemos, F. C. S.; Trujillo, E. V.; Balanta, P.; Macapagal, M. E. J.; Ferreira, M. C.; Herman, G.; de Sauvage, I.; Bourguignon, D.; Wang, Q.; Fülöp, M.; Harb, C.; Chybicka, A.; Mekonnen, K. H.; Martin, M.; Nizharadze, G.; Gavreliuc, A.; Buitendach J.; Valk, A.; Koller, S. H. (SAGE Publications Inc.SAGE, 2014)Several theories propose that self-esteem, or positive self-regard, results from fulfilling the value priorities of one's surrounding culture. Yet, surprisingly little evidence exists for this assertion, and theories differ ... -
Beyond the 'East-West' dichotomy: Global variation in cultural models of selfhood
Vignoles, V. L.; Owe, E.; Becker, M.; Smith, P. B.; Easterbrook, M. J.; Brown, R.; González, R.; Didier, N.; Carrasco, D.; Cadena, M. P.; Lay, S.; Schwartz, S. J.; Rosiers, S. E. D.; Villamar, J. A.; Gavreliuc, A.; Zinkeng, M.; Kreuzbauer, R.; Baguma, P.; Martin, M.; Tatarko, A.; Herman, G.; de Sauvage, I.; Courtois, M.; Gardarsdóttir, R. B.; Harb, C.; Gallo, I. S.; Gil, P. P.; Clemares, R. L.; Campara, G.; Nizharadze, G.; Macapagal, M. E. J.; Jalal, B.; Bourguignon, D.; Zhang, J.; Lv, S.; Chybicka, A.; Yuki, M.; Zhang X.; Espinosa, A.; Valk, A.; Abuhamdeh, S.; Amponsah, B.; Özgen E.; Guner, E. Ü.; Yamakoglu, N.; Chobthamkit, P.; Pyszczynski, T.; Kesebir, P.; Trujillo, E. V.; Balanta, P.; Ayala, B. C.; Koller, S. H.; Jaafar, J. L.; Gausel, N.; Fischer, R.; Milfont, T. L.; Kusdil, E.; Çağlar, S.; Aldhafri, S.; Ferreira, M. C.; Mekonnen, K. H.; Wang, Q.; Fülöp, M.; Torres, A.; Camino, L.; Lemos, F. C. S.; Fritsche, I.; Möller, B.; Regalia, C.; Manzi, C.; Brambilla, M.; Bond, M. H. (American Psychological Association Inc., 2016)Markus and Kitayama's (1991) theory of independent and interdependent self-construals had a major influence on social, personality, and developmental psychology by highlighting the role of culture in psychological processes. ...