The Perception of Cyber and Traditional Risks: Experience of Using the Psychometric Paradigm Approach

Abstract

This article presents the results of using the “psychometric paradigm” methodology (P. Slovic, B. Fischhoff, S. Lichtenstein and others) to study the perception of cyber risks and compare them to other risks designated as “traditional”. The respondents in an online survey were presented seven cyber risks (from computer games to hacker attacks and viruses) and 65 traditional risks (from natural disasters to nuclear power plants and terrorism), assessed based on 8 characteristics. As a result, computer games were perceived differently compared to other cyber risks: first of all, they do not induce fear. Other cyber risks are concentrated in an area of relatively obscure and moderately frightening risks, but they do not form a separate cluster. Radiation therapy, herbicides and pesticides are the closest to cyber risks in the two-dimensional space of risk perception. The results of this pilot survey may be considered a reflection of the sample used, where the main participants were active Internet users who were able to distinguish between the presented cyber risks.