Journal of Wildlife Management · 2013 · 103 citations · 27 references
Social SciencesPsychologySocial PsychologyAnimal BehaviorBehavioral EcologyExperimental PsychologyAnimal CommunicationAnimal Decision-makingAttitudes Toward ConservationEnvironmental CommunicationWildlife BehaviorWildlife ConservationAttitudes Toward Wildlife ConservationAttitudes Toward Wildlife ManagementPublic AcceptancePublic Acceptance Of SciencePublic Attitudes Toward WildlifePublic Perceptions Of WildlifeStakeholder AcceptanceWildlife Conservation Attitudes
Abstract The present study examined the feasibility of experimentally manipulating perceptions of benefit and control via communications to increase public acceptance of bears. We assigned subjects to either a pseudo‐control (basic bear biology message) or 1 of 3 treatments adding a benefits message, a perceived control message, or combining messages about both benefits and perceived control. Within‐subjects pre–post t ‐tests showed a significant increase in acceptance among those in the benefits and combined treatments. A between‐subjects 1‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed a significant difference between the perceived control and combined treatments (where the perceived control message actually decreased acceptance). Our results highlight the importance of including information about benefits stemming from the presence of black bears, as adding this information tended to increase stakeholder acceptance of black bear populations. © 2013 The Wildlife Society.
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Paul Slovic · Science · 1987 · 9.1K citations
The affect heuristic in judgments of risks and benefits
Melissa L. Finucane, Ali Alhakami, Paul Slovic et al. · Journal of Behavioral Decision Making · 2000 · 2.8K citations