This presentation summarizes the research of Dr. Jason S. Wrench on risk communication.

1. Reclaiming a Communication Focus in Risk Communication Presentation by Jason S. Wrench

2. Union Carbide Plant in Bhopal, India

3. 2,000 Died Instantly 20,000 Died in the First Week 200,000+ were injured

5. Three Phases of Risk Communication Phase I (1975-1984) – Risk Assessment Model Phase II (1985-1994) – Risk Management Model Phase III (1994-Present Day) – Risk Communication Model

6. Basic Terminology Hazard: Anything that can cause morbidity (injury) or mortality (death). Risk: The probability of morbidity (loss of limb or injury) or mortality (loss of life) associated with a specific hazard.

7. Risk Communication The process by which an individual or group of individuals (risk communicator[s]) stimulates meaning in the minds of another individual or group individuals (receiver[s]) about the morbidity and mortality associated with a specific hazard by means of verbal, nonverbal, and mediated messages.

8. Wrench (2004) “Development and Validity Testing of the Risk Communicator Style Scale” + Caring/Goodwill + Trustworthiness + + Competence Source Credibility + Behavioral - + Affective + Cognitive Interaction Satisfaction + - Receiver Apprehension + Communicator Clarity + Nonverbal Immediacy Technical Democratic. Communication Variables

9. Four Types of Risk Communicators Risk Educators Risk Feelers + Democratic Risk Assessors Risk Avoiders - Democratic + Technical - Technical

10. Wrench (2007) “The Influence of Perceived Risk Knowledge on Risk Communication” + Caring/Goodwill + Trustworthiness + Competence Source Credibility + Behavioral + Affective + Cognitive Interaction Satisfaction - Receiver Apprehension + Communicator Clarity + Nonverbal Immediacy Risk Knowledge Communication Variables

11. Wrench, Fiore, & Charbonnette “The Impact of Crisis Communication on Levels of Acute-Traumatic Stress Disorder As a Result of the September 11, 2001, Terrorist Attacks on the United States” .20 .50 Canonical Correlation .28 -.76 Hyperarousal .82 -.41 Intrusion .19 -.91 Avoidance .82 .58 Crisis Knowledge .29 -.96 Receiver Apprehension Variate #2 Variate #1

12. Impact of Receiver Characteristics + + Locus of Control + + Psychoticism + Neuroticism Extraversion Human Temperament Receiver Characteristics Belief About Harm Risk Knowledge Technical Democratic Communication Variables

13. Continued - Risk Knowledge - Technical Risk Communicator Style + + Democratic Risk Communicator Style Receiver Perceptions - + - Receiver Apprehension + Responsiveness Assertiveness Sociocommunicative Orientation Belief About Harm Risk Knowledge Technical Democratic Communication Variables