This document discusses risk communication and summarizes the research of Jason Wrench. It outlines 3 phases in the development of risk communication models and defines key terminology. It also describes 4 types of risk communicators and discusses several studies examining how receiver characteristics and communicator style impact risk perception. Finally, it proposes future directions for research, including experimentally testing the effect of political affiliation on risk perception.

1. Reclaiming a Communication Focus in Risk Communication Presentation by Jason S. Wrench

2. Union Carbide Plant in Bhopal, India

3. 2,000 Died Instantly 20,000 Died in the First Week 200,000+ were injured

5. Three Phases of Risk Communication Phase I (1975-1984) – Risk Assessment Model Phase II (1985-1994) – Risk Management Model Phase III (1994-Present Day) – Risk Communication Model

6. Basic Terminology Hazard: Anything that can cause morbidity (injury) or mortality (death). Risk: The probability of morbidity (loss of limb or injury) or mortality (loss of life) associated with a specific hazard.

7. Risk Communication The process by which an individual or group of individuals (risk communicator[s]) stimulates meaning in the minds of another individual or group individuals (receiver[s]) about the morbidity and mortality associated with a specific hazard by means of verbal, nonverbal, and mediated messages.

8. Wrench (2004) “Development and Validity Testing of the Risk Communicator Style Scale” + Caring/Goodwill + Trustworthiness + + Competence Source Credibility + Behavioral - + Affective + Cognitive Interaction Satisfaction + - Receiver Apprehension + Communicator Clarity + Nonverbal Immediacy Technical Democratic. Communication Variables

9. Four Types of Risk Communicators Risk Educators Risk Feelers + Democratic Risk Assessors Risk Avoiders - Democratic + Technical - Technical

10. Wrench (2007) “The Influence of Perceived Risk Knowledge on Risk Communication” + Caring/Goodwill + Trustworthiness + Competence Source Credibility + Behavioral + Affective + Cognitive Interaction Satisfaction - Receiver Apprehension + Communicator Clarity + Nonverbal Immediacy Risk Knowledge Communication Variables

11. Wrench, Fiore, & Charbonnette “The Impact of Crisis Communication on Levels of Acute-Traumatic Stress Disorder As a Result of the September 11, 2001, Terrorist Attacks on the United States” .20 .50 Canonical Correlation .28 -.76 Hyperarousal .82 -.41 Intrusion .19 -.91 Avoidance .82 .58 Crisis Knowledge .29 -.96 Receiver Apprehension Variate #2 Variate #1

12. Impact of Receiver Characteristics + + Locus of Control + + Psychoticism + Neuroticism Extraversion Human Temperament Receiver Characteristics Belief About Harm Risk Knowledge Technical Democratic Communication Variables

13. Continued - Risk Knowledge - Technical Risk Communicator Style + + Democratic Risk Communicator Style Receiver Perceptions - + - Receiver Apprehension + Responsiveness Assertiveness Sociocommunicative Orientation Belief About Harm Risk Knowledge Technical Democratic Communication Variables