Title: Radiation and irrational fear: a psychological perspective

Authors: Colin Seymour, Carmel Mothersill

Addresses: Medical Physics and Applied Radiation Science, Nuclear Research Building, Room 231, McMaster University 1280, Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 2C1, Canada ' Medical Physics and Applied Radiation Science, Nuclear Research Building, Room 231, McMaster University 1280, Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 2C1, Canada

Abstract: Scientists often think of science as an objective reality. This ignores the issues of public perceptions of that science, and leads to a divide of views between some scientists in that area and the wider public. This particularly appears to be true in areas where fear is used as a psychological weapon by opponents of that particular science. Notable examples of this include waste incineration and nuclear power. This paper explores how irrational fear is used within the framework of more objective scientific argument to distort arguments.

Keywords: radiation; irrational fear; perspective; psychology.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLR.2004.003866

International Journal of Low Radiation, 2004 Vol.1 No.2, pp.155 - 158

Published online: 10 May 2004 *

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