Risk communication between experts and the public: perceptions and intentions

This paper develops a conceptual and theoretical analysis of risk communication in cases where experts and the public have widely divergent views of the dimensions of a risk. Applications are chosen from among the risk management problems that are inherent to handling of spent nuclear fuel. One stresses the fact that the conflicting points of views have very different bases. The role of trust is analyzed and, as it is a crucial issue, it becomes much more encompassing than what has usually been assumed. The reasons for this difference can be found in risk perception models applied to survey data concerning risk perception and related attitudes.