Communication and mental processes: Experiential and analytic processing of uncertain climate information

Sabine M. Marx; Elke U. Weber; Benjamin S. Orlove; Anthony Leiserowitz; David H. Krantz; Carla Roncoli; Jennifer Phillips

doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2006.10.004

Communication and mental processes: Experiential and analytic processing of uncertain climate information

Sabine M. Marx, Elke U. Weber, Benjamin S. Orlove, Anthony Leiserowitz, David H. Krantz, Carla Roncoli, Jennifer Phillips

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

359 Scopus citations

Abstract

People process uncertainty information in two qualitatively different systems. Most climate forecast communications assume people process information analytically. Yet people also rely heavily on an experiential processing system. Better understanding of experiential processing may lead to more comprehensible risk communication products. Retranslation of statistical information into concrete (vicarious) experience facilitates intuitive understanding of probabilistic information and motivates contingency planning. Sharing vicarious experience in group discussions or simulations of forecasts, decisions, and outcomes provides a richer and more representative sample of relevant experience. The emotional impact of the concretization of abstract risks motivates action in ways not provided by an analytic understanding.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	47-58
Number of pages	12
Journal	Global Environmental Change
Volume	17
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2006.10.004
State	Published - Feb 2007
Externally published	Yes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Global and Planetary Change
Geography, Planning and Development
Ecology
Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law

Keywords

Affective decision making
Climate information
Environmental decisions
Group decision making
Mental processing
Probability
Risk communication
Uncertainty

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10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2006.10.004

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title = "Communication and mental processes: Experiential and analytic processing of uncertain climate information",

abstract = "People process uncertainty information in two qualitatively different systems. Most climate forecast communications assume people process information analytically. Yet people also rely heavily on an experiential processing system. Better understanding of experiential processing may lead to more comprehensible risk communication products. Retranslation of statistical information into concrete (vicarious) experience facilitates intuitive understanding of probabilistic information and motivates contingency planning. Sharing vicarious experience in group discussions or simulations of forecasts, decisions, and outcomes provides a richer and more representative sample of relevant experience. The emotional impact of the concretization of abstract risks motivates action in ways not provided by an analytic understanding.",

keywords = "Affective decision making, Climate information, Environmental decisions, Group decision making, Mental processing, Probability, Risk communication, Uncertainty",

author = "Marx, {Sabine M.} and Weber, {Elke U.} and Orlove, {Benjamin S.} and Anthony Leiserowitz and Krantz, {David H.} and Carla Roncoli and Jennifer Phillips",

note = "Funding Information: Preparation of this paper was facilitated by US National Science Foundation Grants SES-0345840 and SES-0435622, and US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Grant NA06GP0308. We would like to acknowledge that valuable comments were provided by Roberta Balstad and Kenneth Broad (co-directors of the Center for Research on Environmental Decisions, CRED). Furthermore, we thank two anonymous reviewers and the members of the Krantz/Weber/CRED lab for constructive feedback and suggestions. ",

year = "2007",

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doi = "10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2006.10.004",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "17",

pages = "47--58",

journal = "Global Environmental Change",

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T2 - Experiential and analytic processing of uncertain climate information

AU - Marx, Sabine M.

AU - Weber, Elke U.

AU - Orlove, Benjamin S.

AU - Leiserowitz, Anthony

AU - Krantz, David H.

AU - Roncoli, Carla

AU - Phillips, Jennifer

N1 - Funding Information: Preparation of this paper was facilitated by US National Science Foundation Grants SES-0345840 and SES-0435622, and US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Grant NA06GP0308. We would like to acknowledge that valuable comments were provided by Roberta Balstad and Kenneth Broad (co-directors of the Center for Research on Environmental Decisions, CRED). Furthermore, we thank two anonymous reviewers and the members of the Krantz/Weber/CRED lab for constructive feedback and suggestions.

PY - 2007/2

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N2 - People process uncertainty information in two qualitatively different systems. Most climate forecast communications assume people process information analytically. Yet people also rely heavily on an experiential processing system. Better understanding of experiential processing may lead to more comprehensible risk communication products. Retranslation of statistical information into concrete (vicarious) experience facilitates intuitive understanding of probabilistic information and motivates contingency planning. Sharing vicarious experience in group discussions or simulations of forecasts, decisions, and outcomes provides a richer and more representative sample of relevant experience. The emotional impact of the concretization of abstract risks motivates action in ways not provided by an analytic understanding.

AB - People process uncertainty information in two qualitatively different systems. Most climate forecast communications assume people process information analytically. Yet people also rely heavily on an experiential processing system. Better understanding of experiential processing may lead to more comprehensible risk communication products. Retranslation of statistical information into concrete (vicarious) experience facilitates intuitive understanding of probabilistic information and motivates contingency planning. Sharing vicarious experience in group discussions or simulations of forecasts, decisions, and outcomes provides a richer and more representative sample of relevant experience. The emotional impact of the concretization of abstract risks motivates action in ways not provided by an analytic understanding.

KW - Affective decision making

KW - Climate information

KW - Environmental decisions

KW - Group decision making

KW - Mental processing

KW - Probability

KW - Risk communication

KW - Uncertainty

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Communication and mental processes: Experiential and analytic processing of uncertain climate information

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Keywords

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