Name at least 5 important determinants of risk perception.

One key determinant of risk perception is the extent to which an individual feels they have control over a situation. It's much easier to feel less at risk when you can influence the outcome. For example, driving your own car tends to feel safer than flying in an airplane, even though statistics show that air travel is much safer. This is because driving gives you a sense of control. This perceived control can significantly lower your risk perception. Take measures where you can increase your control over a situation to feel less at risk.

Familiarity with a specific risk plays a huge role in how we perceive them. People often feel more comfortable with known risks as opposed to unfamiliar ones. For instance, everyday activities like riding a bike or cooking are less intimidating because they are part of our routine lives. On the other hand, unfamiliar activities such as bungee jumping or skydiving, which most people rarely experience, tend to be perceived as more risky. The more you familiarize yourself with a risk, the less threatening it becomes.

Voluntariness is another important determinant. If you choose to take a risk voluntarily, you are likely to perceive it as less dangerous. For example, smoking is a voluntary risk and many people continue to smoke despite knowing the potential health risks. In contrast, risks that are imposed without your consent, such as exposure to secondhand smoke, can feel much more threatening. This difference in perception is due to the lack of choice involved in involuntary risks, making them seem more dangerous.

The potential for a risk to cause large-scale harm or have catastrophic outcomes hightens risk perception. For example, nuclear power plant accidents are rare but perceived as highly dangerous due to their catastrophic potential. The thought of a single event causing severe damage to numerous lives and properties makes such risks feel more intimidating. Even if the likelihood of happening is low, if the consequences are massive, people will perceive the risk as higher.

Media plays a major role in shaping risk perception. The more media coverage a risk gets, the more it stays in the public consciousness, thereby amplifying the perceived danger. For instance, extensive news coverage on plane crashes makes people more anxious about flying than driving, even though car accidents are more common. Media can highlight certain risks disproportionately, which can skew public perception. Stay informed, but also critically evaluate the media's portrayal of risks.