Cognition and emotion in the evaluation of environmental accidents: modelling and empirical studies

Lay people's evaluation of environmental risks is often based on mass media descriptions of single disastrous events. This article analyzes the cognit ive and emotional reactions towards those reports. We assume that character istic features of the events determine the cognitive evaluation and the ris e of the emotions anger and sadness. An intuitive, spontaneous, and schema- based evaluation process is postulated that entails a coherent perception a nd appraisal of an event. The theoretical assumptions are formally specifie d and implemented in the computer model ITERA (Intuitive Thinking in Enviro nmental Risk Appraisal). In three experimental studies, we presented manipu lated descriptions about negative environmental events. The effects of thre e experimental variables (knowledge about the riskiness of an action: highe r goal of the actor, voluntarity of the actor) were compared with the model 's predictions. For anger we found a good correspondence between the empiri cal results and the model's data. The predicted coherence effects of the co gnitive appraisal were confirmed to a great extent. Results for sadness did not conform with model predictions.