RISK PERCEPTION AND COMMUNICATION UNPLUGGED - 20 YEARS OF PROCESS

Over the past twenty years, risk communication researchers and practit ioners have learned some lessons, often at considerable personal price . For the most part, the mistakes that they have made have been natura l, even intelligent ones. As a result, the same pitfalls may tempt new comers to the field. This essay offers a personal (even confessional) history of the field over this period. It identifies a series of devel opmental stages. Progress through the stages involves consolidating th e skills needed to execute it and learning its limitations. Knowing ab out their existence might speed the learning process and alert one to how much there still is to learn.