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Risk, psychophysical numbing and value of individual and community lives: an empirical study

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  • Kirill Gavrilov

    (National Research University Higher School of Economics. Department of Sociology)

Abstract

This paper deals with the “value of life” concept in the field of risk analysis, especially in relation to the sociology of risk. The central part of the paper describes the methodology and main findings of an empirical study analysing the interconnection between the value of life and the value of the social whole. This empirical study is based on “psycho-physical numbing” research and utilises several ideas from folk sociology studies, particularly the notion of the “perceived entitativity” of groups and the corresponding dimensions and factors of “entitativity”. Our study demonstrates that the willingness to support programs and measures aimed at helping victims is generally affected by the description of the community under risk, particularly if the community is perceived as a high-entitative one

Suggested Citation

  • Kirill Gavrilov, 2013. "Risk, psychophysical numbing and value of individual and community lives: an empirical study," HSE Working papers WP BRP 09/PSY/2013, National Research University Higher School of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:hig:wpaper:09psy2013
    as

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    File URL: http://www.hse.ru/data/2013/04/23/1296369338/09PSY2013.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    risk; value of life; value of social whole; psychophysical numbing; folk sociology; entitativity.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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