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Updated: May 28, 2026
12:08
Diagonal Method to Measure Synergy Among Any Number of Drugs
Published on: June 21, 2018
Do people believe combined hazards can present synergistic risks?
Ian G J Dawson1, Johnnie E V Johnson, Michelle A Luke
1Centre for Risk Research, School of Management, Faculty of Business and Law, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. igjd106@soton.ac.uk
Summary
People underestimate synergistic risks, where combined hazards pose greater dangers than individual ones. Belief in these elevated risks decreases as their magnitude increases, necessitating better risk communication strategies.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive psychology
- Risk perception
- Decision science
Background:
- Synergistic risks, where combined hazards exceed the sum of individual risks, have significant harmful outcomes.
- Understanding public perception of synergistic risks is crucial for effective risk management and communication.
- Existing research lacks clarity on the extent to which individuals recognize and believe in synergistic risk phenomena.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate public belief in the possibility of synergistic risks.
- To determine how the magnitude of synergistic risk influences belief.
- To explore variations in belief based on hazard domain and characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Two experimental studies were conducted.
- Participants evaluated scenarios depicting synergistic and additive risk combinations.
- Judgments were made regarding the possibility of these combined risks.
Main Results:
- Belief in synergistic risks decreased linearly with increasing magnitude of the synergistic risk.
- Participants underestimated higher-magnitude synergistic risks, believing additive or weak synergy was more likely.
- Beliefs varied based on hazard characteristics (e.g., specified vs. unspecified drug combinations) rather than solely domain (health vs. social).
Conclusions:
- Public underestimation of synergistic risks, particularly at higher magnitudes, poses a significant challenge.
- Current beliefs may lead to inadequate preparedness for potent combined hazards.
- There is a critical need for targeted risk communication to enhance public awareness of synergistic risks.
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