|Table of Contents|

Social Representation Theory in Risk Studies(PDF)

《南京师大学报》（社会科学版）[ISSN:1006-6977/CN:61-1281/TN]

Issue:
2013年02期
Page:
116-
Research Field:
Publishing date:

Info

Title:
Social Representation Theory in Risk Studies
Author(s):
WANG Lei;  WU Lin
Keywords:
risk;  social representations;  risk perception
PACS:
-
DOI:
-
Abstract:
The current risk studies are conducted by employing such theories as are characterized mainly by the technique orientation, culture orientation and the notion of social amplification of risks. Though having deepened our understanding of risks, these theories have some limitations. The fundamental one is that they all focus on the individual, static and cognitive aspects of risk perception. The social representations theory, however, uses common sense to understand the new things and regard social representations as the interface between individual and social levels. Social representations theory emphasizes the interactions among group members to reach a consensus while allowing individual differences. It argues that representations will change with interpersonal interactions and the passage of time. These features can make up for the limitations of the risk perception theory. The sub-theories of social representations, i.e. the structural theory, identity theory and toblerone model, lay a solid theoretical basis for the studies of risk representations. Different research methods like triangulation, word associations, serial reproduction, and basic cognitive schemes, constitute their methodological basis. Thus, social representations theory can become a new guiding theory for risk studies.

References:

Abric, J. C., 1993, “Central system, peripheral system: Their functions and roles in the dynamics of social representations”, Papers on Social Representations, vol.2, pp.75-78.
Abric, J. C., 2001, “A structural approach to social representations”, in K. Deaux & G. Philogène(eds.), Representations of the Social: Bridging Theoretical Traditions, Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, pp.42-47.
Bauer, M. and G. Gaskell, 2008, “Social representations theory: A progressive research programme for social psychology”, Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour, vol.38, pp.335-353.
Breakwell, G. M. and J. Barnett, 2003, “Social amplification of risk and the layering method”, in N. Pidgeon, R. E. Kasperson & P. Slovic(eds.),The Social Amplification of Risk, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press,pp.80-101.
Brondi, S., M. Sarrica, R. Cibin, F. Neresini and A. Contarello, 2011, “The Chiampo River 30 years later: Long-term effects of environmental regulations on social representations”, Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology,vol.22, pp.283-299.
Fischhoff, B., P. Slovic, S. Lichtenstein, S. Read and B. Combs, 1978, “How safe is safe enough? A psychometric study of attitudes towards technological risks and benefits”, Policy Sciences, vol.8, pp.127-152.
Karen, B., 2004, “Risk perception research: Socio-cultural perspectives on the public experience of air pollution”, Environment International, vol.30, pp.827-840.
Wilkinson, I. 2001, “Social theories of risk perception: At once indispensable and insufficient”, Current Sociology, vol.49, pp.1-22.
Machlis, G. E. and E. A. Rosa, 1990, “Desired risk broadening the social amplification of risk framework”, Risk Analysis,vol.10, pp.161-168.
Masuda, J. R. and T. Garvin, 2006, “Place, Culture, and the Social Amplication of Risk”, Risk Analysis,vol.26, pp.437-454.
Moscovici, S., 1973, “Introduction”, in C. Herzlich(ed.), Health and Illness: A Social Psychological Analysis, London and New York: Academic Press, pp.9-16.
Moscovici, S., 1984, “The phenomenon of social representations”, in R.M. Farr & S. Moscovici(eds.), Social Representations, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 3-69.
Starr, C.,1969, “Social benefit versus technological risk”, Science, vol.165,pp.1232-1238.
Wagner,W., J. Valencia and F. Elejabarrieta, 1996, “Relevance, discourse and the ‘hot’ stable core of social representations: A structural analysis of word associations”, British Journal of Social Psychology,vol.35,pp.331-351.

Memo

Memo:
-
Last Update: 2013-04-30