Modi der Verständlichkeit und die Magie des Unverständlichen

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Authors

We propose a hypothetical classification of different types of public understanding of science and discuss how these types relate to risk perception. Empirically, an increasing understanding of science may lead to acceptance of risks as well as to polarization and strong rejection; on the other hand, a lack of understanding is often associated with uncritical acceptance, a phenomenon that we call the magic of incomprehensibility. We propose a taxonomy of different modes and paths of scientific (in-)comprehension: From a zone of (a) ignorance and indifference, one path leads to (b) familiarity and acceptance, a second path to (c) fragility and polarization, and a third path to (d) the magic of incomprehensibility. We describe the characteristics of risk domains that affect which path is taken in public discourse, and we discuss implications for science communication.
Translated title of the contributionModes of understanding and the magic of the incomprehensible
Original languageGerman
JournalPsychologische Rundschau
Volume68
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)203-207
Number of pages5
ISSN0033-3042
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 07.2017

    Research areas

  • Business psychology - risk perception, societal risks, socio-scientific risks, science communication, public understanding of science

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