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Related Concept Videos

Self-Discrepancy Theory02:45

Self-Discrepancy Theory

One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.
Unrealistic Optimism Bias01:30

Unrealistic Optimism Bias

Unrealistic optimism bias is the tendency to overestimate the likelihood of positive outcomes. This cognitive bias makes individuals believe they are less likely to experience failures, setbacks, or risks and more likely to succeed than others. For example, people may assume they are less prone to health issues, accidents, or financial struggles than their peers, even when they share similar risk factors.One key component of this bias is the above-average effect, where individuals perceive...
Confirmation Biases01:31

Confirmation Biases

The confirmation bias is the tendency to focus on information that confirms our existing beliefs and ignore information that is inconsistent with our expectations. For example, if you think that your professor is not very nice, you notice all of the instances of rude behavior exhibited by the professor while ignoring the countless pleasant interactions he is involved in on a daily basis. Have you ever fallen prey to the confirmation bias, either as the source or target of such bias?
Correspondence Bias01:17

Correspondence Bias

Correspondence bias, also referred to as the fundamental attribution error, describes the tendency to attribute another person’s behavior to internal characteristics rather than situational influences. This cognitive bias leads individuals to overlook external factors that may be influencing actions, thereby fostering potentially inaccurate assessments of others’ intentions and dispositions.Empirical Evidence for Correspondence BiasResearch has consistently demonstrated the prevalence of...
Magical Thinking01:29

Magical Thinking

Magical thinking encompasses the belief in assumptions that defy logical reasoning yet appear intuitively convincing. It is a common psychological phenomenon that persists across various cultural and individual contexts. While these assumptions contradict empirical evidence and scientific laws, they often serve meaningful psychological roles in promoting emotional resilience and a sense of control, especially under stress or uncertainty.Thought-Action Fusion and the Law of SimilarityA key...
Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches01:23

Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches

Biopharmaceutical studies constitute a vital field aiming to enhance drug delivery methods and refine therapeutic approaches, drawing upon diverse interdisciplinary knowledge. In research methodologies, the choice between controlled and non-controlled studies significantly influences the study's reliability and accuracy.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 19, 2026

Measuring the Subjective Value of Risky and Ambiguous Options using Experimental Economics and Functional MRI Methods
13:04

Measuring the Subjective Value of Risky and Ambiguous Options using Experimental Economics and Functional MRI Methods

Published on: September 19, 2012

How Are Perceived Ambiguity and Risk Beliefs Related? Evidence From Longitudinal and Daily Diary Data.

Ivy Cheng1, Jennifer M Taber1, Jeremy L Foust2

  • 1Department of Psychological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, USA.

Risk Analysis : an Official Publication of the Society for Risk Analysis
|May 18, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Perceived ambiguity in health information initially increased COVID-19 risk beliefs but later decreased perceived severity as the disease became familiar. Understanding this shift is crucial for public health communication.

Keywords:
COVID‐19ambiguityrisk perceptionuncertainty

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 19, 2026

Measuring the Subjective Value of Risky and Ambiguous Options using Experimental Economics and Functional MRI Methods
13:04

Measuring the Subjective Value of Risky and Ambiguous Options using Experimental Economics and Functional MRI Methods

Published on: September 19, 2012

Area of Science:

  • Health Communication
  • Risk Perception
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Health information ambiguity is common, yet its impact on health cognitions like risk perception remains understudied.
  • Understanding how individuals process uncertain health information is vital for effective public health messaging and behavior change.
  • Theories of pessimistic appraisal and motivated reasoning offer frameworks for understanding responses to ambiguous information.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the temporal relationships between perceived ambiguity of health information and risk beliefs.
  • To examine how these relationships evolve over time during a novel disease outbreak (COVID-19).

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study using two participant panels (N=548, N=742) with baseline, 10-day daily diary, and 1-year follow-up data.
  • Collected data on perceived ambiguity of COVID-19 information and risk beliefs (likelihood, severity, worry).
  • Employed statistical analyses to assess concurrent and lagged associations between ambiguity and risk beliefs.

Main Results:

  • Early in the pandemic, higher perceived ambiguity correlated with higher perceived likelihood and severity of COVID-19.
  • One year later, higher perceived ambiguity was associated with lower perceived severity, suggesting a shift in appraisal.
  • Longitudinal analysis showed baseline ambiguity predicting lower perceived severity at follow-up in one panel; daily diary data did not reveal consistent temporal links.

Conclusions:

  • The concurrent relationship between perceived ambiguity and risk beliefs shifted from positive to negative over two years of the COVID-19 outbreak.
  • This dynamic suggests that responses to uncertain health information change as the novelty of the health threat decreases.
  • Findings underscore the need for adaptive communication strategies that consider the evolving nature of health information and public understanding.