Pregledni rad
PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF RESEARCH ON ENVIRONMENTAL DANGERS
Dinka Čorkalo
; Filozofski fakultet, Zagreb
Sažetak
The essay describes psychological research on environmental dangers. The definition of environmental dangers has been proposed in the essay and there is a survey of research work with regards to the environmental dangers division: natural and technical ones. The warning has been put out: there are similarities and differences to natural and technological hazards, and there is a need for a multidimensional approach to the perception of environmental dangers. The consequence the experiencing of a natural or technological catastrophe left the man with has been considered. The research work investigation suggests that psychological consequences of experiencing natural catastrophe are of a lesser and shorter duration impact than those that arose from experiencing the technological catastrophe. As we are witnessing the ever greater intensity of technologcial development, the research work on public opinion with regards to the various technical risks, mainly nuclear power, has been given special attention. The factors determining this relatinship (being acquainted with danger, the knowledge, the attitude, the confidence in the expert and responsible, the characteristics of personality etc.) were expressed. The differences in laymen and experts perception of risks in using some of the technologies were also considered as well as the factors basical to these differences. A very detailed survey of research work on the attitude of laymen and groups of experts to using certain technologies, especially the nuclear technologies has been given. Most research works discovered some similar factors that represent the basis of the attitude towards the nuclear power. These are the factors of economic and technological benefit of environmental and physical hazards, social and political implications of the use of nuclear technology, as well as the factor of psychological risk. The warning was put forward that the contribution of all the factors to the attitude of different groups of the examined (laymen, experts, supporters and opponents) was not equally balanced. The fact that the world was acquainted with (at least) two great nuclear catastrophes (on the Three Mile Island and Tchernobil) incited the research scientists to examine the psychological consequencies of the disasters. The survey of several most important investigations was given in this essay as well.
Ključne riječi
environmental dangers; perception of dangers; risk; hazard; natural catastrophes; technological catastrophes; attitudes towards technologies; nuclear energy
Hrčak ID:
136619
URI
Datum izdavanja:
15.1.1992.
Posjeta: 3.051 *