Letter abstract
Nature Nanotechnology 4, 87 - 90 (2008)
Published online: 7 December 2008 | doi:10.1038/nnano.2008.341
Subject Category: Ethical, legal and other societal issues
Cultural cognition of the risks and benefits of nanotechnology
Dan M. Kahan1, Donald Braman2, Paul Slovic3, John Gastil4 & Geoffrey Cohen5
Abstract
How is public opinion towards nanotechnology likely to evolve? The 'familiarity hypothesis' holds that support for nanotechnology will likely grow as awareness of it expands. The basis of this conjecture is opinion polling, which finds that few members of the public claim to know much about nanotechnology, but that those who say they do are substantially more likely to believe its benefits outweigh its risks1, 2, 3, 4. Some researchers, however, have avoided endorsing the familiarity hypothesis, stressing that cognitive heuristics and biases could create anxiety as the public learns more about this novel science5, 6. We conducted an experimental study aimed at determining how members of the public would react to balanced information about nanotechnology risks and benefits. Finding no support for the familiarity hypothesis, the study instead yielded strong evidence that public attitudes are likely to be shaped by psychological dynamics associated with cultural cognition.
- Yale Law School, PO Box 208215, 127 Wall Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA
- The George Washington University Law School, 2000 H Street, NW, Washington, Dictrict of Columbia 20052, USA
- Decision Research 1201 Oak Street, Suite 200 Eugene, Oregon 97401, USA
- Department of Communication, University of Washington, Box 353740 Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Muenzinger Psychology Building, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA
Correspondence to: Dan M. Kahan1 e-mail: dan.kahan@yale.edu
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