Open AccessTrust and its effects on the public's perception of flood risk: a social science investigation of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River
Author(s) -
Su Y.,
Sun X.p.,
Zhao F.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of flood risk management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.049
H-Index - 36
ISSN - 1753-318X
DOI - 10.1111/jfr3.12138
Subject(s) - flood myth , risk perception , perception , warning system , emergency management , public trust , flood control , business , risk management , environmental resource management , environmental planning , psychology , public relations , geography , political science , environmental science , engineering , finance , archaeology , neuroscience , aerospace engineering , law
To explore the public's risk perception and its causes and effects, it would be helpful to understand the basis for the public's disaster alleviation decisions and improve the effectiveness of risk communication. This paper analyses the relationship between the public's trust and risk perception by investigating the motives for trust building and the effects on public's flood risk perception in an area along the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River. The objects of trust are disaster alleviation measures of monitoring and early warning, flood control projects, and disaster event management. The study data were obtained by conducting household interviews. The major conclusions are: (1) Public's trust in monitoring and early warning as well as in flood control projects is greater than the one in disaster event management. Trust has changed the public's assessment of flood risk and enhanced public confidence in disaster handling. Meanwhile, it reduces the propensity to adopt long‐term preparation against disasters. Therefore, the public needs guidance in recognising the limits and validity of scientific and technological capabilities. (2) Public's trust is the product of not only individual psychological processes but also the external regional flood risk and social psychological characteristics. The levels of trust vary in different regions. Therefore, risk communication should be conducted according to regional characteristics.