Why No One Believes Us: Cognitive Neuroscience and Radiation Risk

摘要

Public perception of radiation risks and their acceptability remains far from the consensus of radiation protection specialists, despite decades of individual and organizational efforts at risk communication. We have eagerly adopted the guidance of risk communication specialists, and presented the facts in a non-threatening and understandable fashion. Nevertheless we continue to encounter intense opposition to the development of nuclear power plants, waste storage sites, food irradiation facilities, and other applications of radiation and radioactive materials. We have been told such opposition is an emotional reaction that we must allow to be expressed, and then calmly and coolly respond with our understandable facts. One understandable fact is that what we have been doing simply doesn't work. The rapid development of the cognitive neurosciences, particularly evolutionary psychology, over the past twenty years or so has provided remarkable insights into this situation. Human brains come into the world with certain genetically determined methods of classifying sensory inputs called "memes," a term adopted from cultural anthropology. The "contagion" meme is a key player in response to radiological issues, as is the "pattern-seeking11 meme. Furthermore, the human decision-making faculty does not exist in Descartes' res cogitans, but in a hardwired network of literal gut feelings and other body states we call emotions. Understanding and implementing these findings may lead us to more effective communication efforts, but also warn us that effecting significant behavioural changes will be a Sisyphean task.