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Shared Values, Social Trust, and the Perception of Geographic Cancer Clusters

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  • Michael Siegrist
  • George T. Cvetkovich
  • Heinz Gutscher

Abstract

Extensive scientific investigations often fail to identify specific carcinogens that have caused geographic clusters of cancer cases. In many such examples, public health officials and other experts have concluded that the cluster is not the result of a particular local environmental condition. Despite this conclusion by experts, concerned members of local communities often persist in believing that the cancer cluster was not random. The present study accounts for the persistence of this belief on the basis of two factors: (a) the tendency of the human mind to identify patterns (and causes), rather than randomness; and (b) a lack of social trust in public health experts. It was expected that perceived shared values evoke social trust. Individuals who conclude that public health experts share their values should be more likely to accept the experts’ conclusion that a cancer cluster reflects randomness, not a particular local cause. Individuals who trust authorities should be more inclined than individuals not having trust to accept that a geographic cluster of cancer cases is a coincidence. Data from Swiss students (N= 334) supported these expectations. Additionally, significant gender differences were observed. Females had less trust in authorities and perceived the cancer cluster as less likely to be a result of pure chance than did males. Practical implications of the results are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Siegrist & George T. Cvetkovich & Heinz Gutscher, 2001. "Shared Values, Social Trust, and the Perception of Geographic Cancer Clusters," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 21(6), pages 1047-1054, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:riskan:v:21:y:2001:i:6:p:1047-1054
    DOI: 10.1111/0272-4332.216173
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    Cited by:

    1. Andrea Gurmankin Levy & Neil Weinstein & Erin Kidney & Suzanne Scheld & Peter Guarnaccia, 2008. "Lay and Expert Interpretations of Cancer Cluster Evidence," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(6), pages 1531-1538, December.
    2. Craig W. Trumbo & Katherine A. McComas, 2003. "The Function of Credibility in Information Processing for Risk Perception," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 23(2), pages 343-353, April.
    3. Lavdmaa Dagvadorj & Bolorchimeg Byamba & Mamoru Ishikawa, 2018. "Effect of Local Community’s Environmental Perception on Trust in a Mining Company: A Case Study in Mongolia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-12, February.
    4. Wouter Poortinga & Nick F. Pidgeon, 2003. "Exploring the Dimensionality of Trust in Risk Regulation," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 23(5), pages 961-972, October.
    5. Louis Anthony (Tony) Cox, 2007. "Does Concern‐Driven Risk Management Provide a Viable Alternative to QRA?," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(1), pages 27-43, February.
    6. Kazuya Nakayachi & George Cvetkovich, 2010. "Public Trust in Government Concerning Tobacco Control in Japan," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(1), pages 143-152, January.
    7. Dorte Gyrd‐Hansen & Peder Andreas Halvorsen & Ivar Sønbø Kristiansen, 2008. "Willingness‐to‐pay for a statistical life in the times of a pandemic," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 17(1), pages 55-66, January.
    8. Parastoo Salah & Jun Sasaki, 2021. "Knowledge, Awareness, and Attitudes toward Tsunamis: A Local Survey in the Southern Coast of Iran," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-19, January.
    9. Stephen C. Whitfield & Eugene A. Rosa & Amy Dan & Thomas Dietz, 2009. "The Future of Nuclear Power: Value Orientations and Risk Perception," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(3), pages 425-437, March.
    10. George Chryssochoidis & Anna Strada & Athanasios Krystallis, 2009. "Public trust in institutions and information sources regarding risk management and communication: towards integrating extant knowledge," Journal of Risk Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(2), pages 137-185, March.
    11. Miguel Ángel López-Navarro & Jaume Llorens-Monzonís & Vicente Tortosa-Edo, 2013. "The Effect of Social Trust on Citizens’ Health Risk Perception in the Context of a Petrochemical Industrial Complex," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-18, January.
    12. Fildes, Robert & Goodwin, Paul, 2021. "Stability in the inefficient use of forecasting systems: A case study in a supply chain company," International Journal of Forecasting, Elsevier, vol. 37(2), pages 1031-1046.
    13. Vanda Carreira & João Reis Machado & Lia Vasconcelos, 2016. "Engaging Citizen Participation—A Result of Trusting Governmental Institutions and Politicians in the Portuguese Democracy," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 5(3), pages 1-11, August.

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