Social Amplification of Risk: Safety, Security, Harm, Threats, Hazards and Danger Beyond Natural or Logical Scales

Risk is rarely neutral, meaning that people, communities and society influence just how minimal or great a risk issue is to them, their lives and their immediate surroundings.

As a result, small risks can become significantly greater than the reality or scale of harm due to the fear, uncertainty, emotion, awareness or media coverage afforded anyone one issue that may/may not represent a threat/harm to individuals or groups.

Shark attacks and cigarette smoking are perfect examples.

So too are terrorist attacks and heart disease.

When was the last time you saw a media report or concerning political statement around the risk of tobacco smoking?

Yet, nearly every single shark encounter with humans is headline news around the world.

"If it bleeds, it leads" - news editor mantra

This results in countless children, adults and tourist living in constant fear when they enter the water that a large carnivorous fish is ready to pounce at any moment and devour them. Especially in Australia.

Therefore, societies amplify risk in many ways, by various means and differing scales.

In order to effectively and accurately evaluate risk, practitioners and professionals need to mediate and unpack amplification channels, actors and narratives.

Remembering, professional groups and their representatives may also amplify risk beyond the true level of harm or threat...especially when they speak to a large public audience via the media.

This applies to many things such as crime, terrorism, kidnapping, plane crashes, illness, politics, adverse drug reactions, etc.

It is even worse within the realm of disinformation and fake news. That is, intentionally crafted information and false information can create and amplify societal fears, uncertainty, tension and dissent.

In sum, risk is the last station on the journey. Information, opinion, emotions, facts and numbers have typically passed through many hands and communities before it appears as a consideration for risk...if at all.

Social amplification and the suppression of harms/threats applies to nearly all risk calculations yet is rarely adequately understood or documented throughout the process or rush to produce a risk matrix, risk register or countless other artefacts repurposed as risk knowledge and understanding within contemporary business environments and organisations.

Moreover, it remains invisible, which only further compounds the distortion.

Tony Ridley, MSc CSyP MSyI M.ISRM

Security, Risk and Management Sciences