Weber, E. U. (2006). Experience-based and description-based perceptions of long-term risk: Why global warming does not scare us (yet)

Title: Experience-based and description-based perceptions of long-term risk: Why global warming does not scare us (yet) Author: Weber, E. U. Year: 2006

Summary: In "Experience-based and Description-based Perceptions of Long-term Risk: Why Global Warming Does Not Scare Us (Yet)," Elke U. Weber (2006) examines the psychological factors that influence how people perceive and respond to long-term risks, such as climate change. The author explores two different ways people form risk perceptions: experience-based and description-based.

Experience-based perceptions are formed through direct personal experiences with a risk or hazard, whereas description-based perceptions rely on information provided by others, such as news articles or scientific reports. Weber argues that the nature of climate change as a long-term, abstract problem makes it difficult for people to form experience-based risk perceptions, which often leads to a lower sense of urgency and concern.

The author also introduces the "finite pool of worry" hypothesis, which suggests that people have a limited capacity for worry and concern. As a result, they tend to prioritize more immediate, personally relevant issues over long-term, abstract problems like climate change. This prioritization can result in a lack of motivation to take action on climate change, as it is perceived as less urgent and less personally relevant compared to other concerns.

Weber concludes that in order to motivate action on climate change, it is essential to make the issue more tangible and personally relevant. This can be achieved by providing concrete examples of the potential impacts of climate change, emphasizing the local consequences, and presenting the risks in a more experience-based manner.

In summary, Weber's (2006) article explores the psychological factors that shape our perceptions of long-term risks, such as climate change, and offers insights into how to make these risks more salient and personally relevant in order to motivate action.