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The Role of Trust in the Affective Evaluation of Novel Risks: The Case of CO 2 Storage
Author(s) -
Midden Cees J. H.,
Huijts Nicole M. A.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
risk analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.972
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1539-6924
pISSN - 0272-4332
DOI - 10.1111/j.1539-6924.2009.01201.x
Subject(s) - affect (linguistics) , relevance (law) , antecedent (behavioral psychology) , psychology , social psychology , cognition , structural equation modeling , computer science , political science , communication , neuroscience , machine learning , law
There is general recognition that trust and affect are closely connected concepts. Usually, affect is modeled as an antecedent of trust. In the present research, we will argue that, particularly in new situations, trust can also evoke affect toward a risky object. Using structural equation modeling, support was found for the hypothesis that trust influences attitudes through this process. In the present study, we analyzed attitudes toward (carbon dioxide) CO 2 storage. The role of affect appears to be moderated by the level of self‐relevance. In the case of high self‐relevance (storage nearby), people's attitudes appeared to be merely based on affective reactions and trust. This effect is much weaker under low self‐relevance (CO 2 storage in general). In such a case, cognitive factors, more particularly beliefs concerning perceived benefits, were also taken into account in attitude formation.