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Risk: objective or subjective, facts or values

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  • Sven Ove Hansson

Abstract

Perhaps the most fundamental divide in risk research is that between proponents of two contradictory concepts of risk. Some take risk as objectively given and determined by physical facts, whereas others see risk as a social construction that is independent of physical facts. These two views are scrutinized, and it is concluded that neither is tenable. Risk is both fact-laden and value-laden, and it contains both objective and subjective components. It is argued that both the objectivist and the subjectivist view of risk are failed attempts to rid a complex concept of much of its complexity. The real challenge is to identify the various types of factual and valuational components inherent in statements about risk and to understand how they are combined. The two oversimplifications both stand in the way of a more sophisticated analysis of risk.

Suggested Citation

  • Sven Ove Hansson, 2010. "Risk: objective or subjective, facts or values," Journal of Risk Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(2), pages 231-238, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:jriskr:v:13:y:2010:i:2:p:231-238
    DOI: 10.1080/13669870903126226
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    Cited by:

    1. Christian Scheve & Markus Lange, 2023. "Risk entanglement and the social relationality of risk," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Feng, Zhongxiang & Gao, Ya & Zhu, Dianchen & Chan, Ho-Yin & Zhao, Mingming & Xue, Rui, 2024. "Impact of risk perception and trust in autonomous vehicles on pedestrian crossing decision: Navigating the social-technological intersection with the ICLV model," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 71-86.
    3. Sarah Alexander & Ezana Atsbeha & Selam Negatu & Kristen Kirksey & Dominique Brossard & Elizabeth Holzer & Paul Block, 2020. "Development of an interdisciplinary, multi-method approach to seasonal climate forecast communication at the local scale," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 162(4), pages 2021-2042, October.
    4. Bishu, Kinfe & O'Reilly, Seamus & Lahiff, Edward & Steiner, Bodo, 2016. "Cattle farmers’ perceptions of risk and risk management strategies," MPRA Paper 74954, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Sven Ove Hansson & Terje Aven, 2014. "Is Risk Analysis Scientific?," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 34(7), pages 1173-1183, July.
    6. Diaconu Mihaela & Du?u Amalia Viorica, 2022. "The Risk Mapping Using Cluster Analysis Within Pandemic Context: Empirical Evidence From Romania," Management Strategies Journal, Constantin Brancoveanu University, vol. 56(2), pages 70-78.
    7. Carol Nash, 2021. "Improving Mentorship and Supervision during COVID-19 to Reduce Graduate Student Anxiety and Depression Aided by an Online Commercial Platform Narrative Research Group," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-18, March.
    8. Max Boholm & Niklas Möller & Sven Ove Hansson, 2016. "The Concepts of Risk, Safety, and Security: Applications in Everyday Language," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 36(2), pages 320-338, February.
    9. Haitham Nobanee & Maryam Alhajjar & Mohammed Ahmed Alkaabi & Majed Musabah Almemari & Mohamed Abdulla Alhassani & Naema Khamis Alkaabi & Saeed Abdulla Alshamsi & Hanan Hamed AlBlooshi, 2021. "A Bibliometric Analysis of Objective and Subjective Risk," Risks, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-20, July.

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