Citation

Verplanken B. Ind. Crisis Q. 1991; 5(4): 253-269.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1991, Industrial Crisis Institute - Bucknell University)

DOI

10.1177/108602669100500402

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper addresses the question of to what extent people's reactions to the Chernobyl 1986 nuclear power plant accident were rational. After a review of studies on Chernobyl published to date, two types of rationality are investigated : outcome rationality and process rationality. The mechanisms by which people seem to come to subjective probability estimates of nuclear risks are further explored in a summary of an experimental study on the meaning of verbal probability expressions. It is concluded that although the rationality of people's responses depends on the interpreter's focus, these responses are understandable and meaningful, and should be taken seriously.