The perception of technological risks: A psychological perspective

Technical safety studies undertaken with the idea of providing hard facts to influence public opinion are unlikely to achieve the desired result. Risk estimates and historical risk statistics can be used in the regulatory process, but only to help determine an upper limit of risk that must not be exceeded. It is not sufficient condition that the estimated risks of new technologies be less than this upper limit. One of the most important problems facing industrialized societies is the identification of institutions and bargaining procedures that can bring regulator, technology sponsor, and public groups into collaborative roles into the regulatory process. (DG)