Risk perception is a complex process influenced by several factors, including the level of health literacy and the presence of cognitive biases. In risky situations, such as the imminent collapse of a building, the way people respond can be crucial to their safety.
Health literacy, defined as the ability to access, understand, and use health information to make informed decisions, plays an important role in risk perception. People with a low level of health literacy may have difficulty understanding the gravity of the situation and the consequences of their actions, which can lead to inappropriate decisions, such as refusing to evacuate a condemned building.
In addition to health literacy, cognitive biases, such as confirmation bias, can influence risk perception. Confirmation bias is the tendency to seek and interpret information that confirms our prior beliefs and expectations, while ignoring or minimizing information that contradicts them. In risky situations, this bias can lead people to underestimate the danger and believe they are safe, even in the face of evidence to the contrary.
In the specific case of the collapse of a building in Luanda, Angola, in 2023, residents’ reluctance to leave the site, even after advance warning, can be attributed to a combination of low health literacy and confirmation bias. A lack of understanding of the seriousness of the situation and a tendency to believe that the building was safe despite the evidence may have contributed to poor decision-making.
It is essential that authorities responsible for risk communication in emergency situations consider these factors and develop clear, accessible and persuasive communication strategies that take into account the population’s level of health literacy and the cognitive biases that may influence the perception of risk. risk. (Rodrigues, FAA, Chingala, ATL, & Wagner, RES (2023). Factors that influence the risk perception of residents of vulnerable housing/buildings. Cognitionis, 5(1), 71–81. https://doi.org /10.38087/2595.8801.177 )
Reference :
RODRIGUES, Fabiano de Abreu Agrela; CHINGALA, Agnaldo Tito Lucas; WAGNER, Roselene Espírito Santo. Factors that influence the risk perception of residents of vulnerable housing/buildings. Cognitionis, vol. 5, no. 1, p. 71-81, 2023.
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