Study of social risk assessment on major projects based on risk perception

Abstract

In recent years, major projects are becoming risk sources to social instability, which have triggered many mass incidents. High-risk society changes evaluation criteria and agenda of project decision-making. By introducing risk society theory into social impact assessment on major projects, a model of “cognition-behavior” is established to modify the assessment criteria and discipline, and also a new framework to assess and precaution potential social stability risks related to the major projects. As a case study, more than 1000 residents from Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant are surveyed. It shows that there is a significant correlation between psychological reactions and social stability risk behaviors. Along with the risk perception degree enhancement, persons are more likely to have a strong risk appetite and risk behaviors. Including risk perception of the surrounding residents in the framework of social risk assessment explores a path to prevention of psychological crisis of anxiety triggered by major projects, which helps to establish a more scientific and reasonable risk assessment model.