Psychological Drivers of Individual Differences in Risk Perception: A Systematic Case Study Focusing on 5G

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Risk Perception
• Societal Impact of Technology

Background:

• Understanding drivers of risk perception is crucial for public policy.
• Previous research has not unified analytic frameworks to assess these drivers in large populations.
• The rollout of fifth-generation (5G) cellular network technology presents a novel risk context for study.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and evaluate key psychological drivers of individual differences in novel risk perception.
• To examine the relationship between risk perception and policy-related attitudes.
• To explore the malleability of risk perception and identify potential intervention targets.

Main Methods:

• Multiverse analysis of a representative Swiss population sample (N=2,919) assessing 5G risk perception.
• Longitudinal field experiment (N=839) using a national expert report on 5G to examine changes in risk perception.
• Statistical modeling to assess associations between psychological drivers, risk perception, and policy attitudes.

Main Results:

• Interindividual differences in 5G risk perception were significantly associated with hazard-related factors (e.g., trust, dread) and person-specific factors (e.g., electromagnetic hypersensitivity).
• Risk perceptions strongly predicted policy-related attitudes, such as voting intentions.
• Intraindividual changes in psychological drivers were linked to shifts in perceived risk, suggesting malleability.

Conclusions:

• Trust in regulatory institutions and personal beliefs are significant predictors of public perception of emerging technologies like 5G.
• Risk perception significantly influences public opinion on technology policy.
• Psychological factors influencing risk perception offer potential avenues for public information campaigns and policy interventions.