Using “Cultural Cognition” to Predict Environmental Risk Perceptions in a Florida Water-Supply Planning Process

Abstract

There have been important recent advances in cultural cognition theory, a theory of the cultural rootedness of risk perception. However, to date, research on cultural cognition has focused only on general public samples, not participants in stakeholder planning processes. Using original data from a survey of stakeholders in a water-supply planning process in Florida, this article evaluates the efficacy and role of cultural cognition theory compared to other social antecedents of risk perception often used in sociological studies, including the New Environmental Paradigm (NEP) and organizational affiliation. The article (1) increases empirical understanding of the predictive utility of cultural cognition among resource management stakeholders; (2) evaluates cultural cognition's direct and indirect effects on risk perception; and (3) discusses implications for the management of stakeholder processes.

Keywords:

• attitudes
• beliefs
• cultural bias
• cultural theory
• worldviews

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the helpful comments and input of Treavor Boyer, Dan Kahan, Charles Peek, and Stephen Perz during the course of this project. This research was funded by a grant from the University of Florida (UF) Water Institute, Program Initiation Fund. The views expressed in this article reflect the authors and do not necessary reflect the UF Water Institute.

Notes

Note. n is based on valid cases. Values shown in each cell are beta and standard errors in parentheses.

*p < .05, **p < .01, ***p < .001.

Note. n is based on valid cases. Values shown in each cell are beta and standard errors in parentheses.

*p < .05, **p < .01, ***p < .001.

Note. n is based on valid cases. Values shown in each cell are beta and standard errors in parentheses.

*p < .05, **p < .01, ***p < .001.

Note. n is based on valid cases. Values shown in each cell are beta and standard errors in parentheses.

*p < .05, **p < .01, ***p < .001.

**Correlation significant at the .01 level; *correlation significant at the .05 level.

For example, hierarchical dispositions generate more concern over abortion risks because abortion rights convey meanings that denigrate hierarchic norms assigning status to women based on their domestic and child-bearing roles (Kahan et al. 2007). On the other hand, hierarchists are more likely to oppose the human papilloma virus vaccine as a public health measure because of the association of the vaccine with premarital sex (Kahan et al. 2010).