Cultural Values and Risk and Benefit Perceptions: An Examination of the Mediating Roles of Trust and Knowledge Hubris

<p>This thesis examines the process by which cultural value predispositions influence perceptions of risks and benefits of energy policies, specifically focusing on High Voltage Power Line (HVPL) installations and Hydraulic Fracturing (fracking). For HVPL installations I examine the role of (dis)trust in three groups associated with the HVPL debate – the government, environmental groups, and the energy industry – in determining risk and benefit perceptions of HVPL installation. Findings indicate that cultural value predispositions guide policy elites’ perceptions of trustworthiness. Further, this trust, in turn, guides perceptions of risks and benefits of HVPL installations, partially mediating the effects of cultural value predispositions on risk and benefit perceptions. For fracking, I introduce the concept of knowledge hubris and examine the cultural value-based origins of knowledge hubris and the resulting role knowledge hubris plays in predicting risk and benefit perceptions associated with fracking. Further, I compare the role of knowledge hubris in risk and benefit assessments between a sample of the general public and local policy elites. Results indicate that the origins of knowledge hubris are similar between local policy elites and the general public. However, the influence of this knowledge hubris on risk and benefit perceptions of fracking is different between the two groups.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts in Political Science (MA)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Year dc:date.available

2016

Author dc:creator

• Tumlison, Clayton Creed

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Song, Geoboo

Contributors dc:contributor

• Schreckhise, William D.
• Kerr, Brinck III

• Social sciences
• Psychology
• Knowledge hubris
• Risk
• Trust
• Energy Policy
• Environmental Policy
• Public Policy

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/1541

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarworks.uark.edu:etd-3080